From DW Documentary. For a long time, soil was all but ignored. But with climate change bringing longer droughts, sudden downpours, and increasing stress on the land, that’s starting to change. Now, some farmers are rethinking how we treat the ground beneath our feet because without healthy, living soil, there’s no future harvest. #documentary #dwdocs…

From DW Documentary. Iranian journalist Roohollah Zam grew up within the Iranian clerical regime. His father is a member of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s inner circle. But the more Zam learned about the regime, the more critical he became – until he had to flee. Zam was forced to leave his home country after he…

From DW Documentary. Matthieu Ricard is a Buddhist monk, writer and thinker. He uses photography to share his wonder at the spectacle that is our world with as many people as possible. He is returning to Bhutan for the first time in seven years. Matthieu Ricard converted to Buddhism at the end of the 1960s.…

From DW Documentary. On December 8, 2024, 16 military personnel from the Ecuadorian Air Force stopped a group of ten Afro-Ecuadorian minors as they were leaving a soccer field. Most of the boys dispersed and ran away, except for Ismael, Josué, Nehemías and Steven. They came from the Las Malvinas neighborhood, one of the most…

From DW Documentary. Many jobs will disappear in the coming decades as a result of AI and automation. This could require a fundamental change in the human relationship to work. In South Korea, many people work fourteen hours or more a day. The immense pressure to perform has an impact on family life and mental…

From DW Documentary. Most of Germany’s rivers are in poor condition. Pollutants from industry and agriculture contaminate the water and lead to algal blooms and species die-offs. Environmental advocates and riverbank residents are fighting for more protection for waterways. More than 500 thousand kilometers of river and stream water flow through Germany. Around ninety percent…

From DW Documentary. The Niger Delta in Nigeria is one of the most polluted areas on earth – due to repeated oil spills. Environmentalists, scientists and lawyers are working together to restore the damage and seek justice for local residents. For decades, British multinational Shell extracted oil in Nigeria, often with no regard for environmental…

From DW Documentary. Flooding caused by heavy rainfall is a regular occurrence — and a consequence of climate change. Weather extremes are no longer limited to certain parts of the world: they’re now part of everyday life in Germany too. Researchers from various disciplines are determined to fight climate change. At Kassel University in the…

From DW Documentary. Before drugs can reach the market, they must first undergo a rigorous process to make sure that they work and aren’t harmful to humans. One stage in this process is animal testing. The EU generally still requires animal testing for drugs, but it also has strict laws to minimize animal use and…

From DW Documentary. The Vietnam War went down in history as a US disaster. But the war was a true catastrophe for the people of Vietnam. Millions of soldiers and civilians were killed and others left maimed. In 1954, Vietnam gained its independence from the colonial power of France. Shortly afterwards, the country was split…

From DW Documentary. With dozens of theme parks, Orlando is seen as a paradise for fans of attractions and rollercoasters. But the shiny, fairytale world also has a lesser-known, darker side. This major city in central Florida attracts vast numbers of tourists every year. But in times gone by, Orlando was just a small farming…

From DW Documentary. He was the first Pope to come from Latin America. How are the people in his hometown of Buenos Aires reflecting on Francis’ papacy? When Argentinian Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected Pope on March 13, 2013, he made history. Not only was he the first Jesuit to hold the office – he…

From DW Documentary. The papal appointment of Argentine national Jorge Mario Bergoglio wrote history. For the first time, a non-European and Jesuit had been made head of the Catholic Church. He was also the first Pope to take the name Francis. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan order, is venerated as patron saint of…

From DW Documentary. Trans people, migrants, Indigenous Americans – since Donald Trump has become president, many members of minority groups fear for their future. The Chippewa Cree, a Native American tribe, lives in the far north of the state of Montana. For several centuries now, they have been marginalized in their own country. Yet they…

From DW Documentary. Gerrit has 30 children with 36 women. And they all know about each other. Gerrit is a private sperm donor. He helps lesbian couples to start a family. The only condition: full transparency. "Every child needs to know where it comes from,” says Gerrit. And so Gerrit and the mothers whose children…

From DW Documentary. Nepalese eye surgeon Sanduk Ruit is considered a pioneer in cataract treatment. The ophthalmologist has helped restore the sight of countless people with his revolutionary surgical technique. Cataracts are one of the most frequent causes of visual impairment worldwide. The disease leads to a clouding of the eye’s lens, which impacts patients’…

From DW Documentary. Ever notice how a good chat can totally change your day? Science is backing it up, connecting with others helps lower the kind of stress that can strain your heart, upset your digestion, and even affect your immune system. Plus, caring for one another sparks those feel good, stress reducing hormones. It’s…

From DW Documentary. Pope Francis has been spiritual leader of the Catholic Church since 2013. The name he chose as Pope refers to St Francis of Assisi. He set out to reform the Vatican; he advocated climate protection and inter-religious dialogue. In March 2013, Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Argentina was elected 266th Pope, the first…

From DW Documentary. In the villages on Sardinia’s east coast, people live longer than almost anywhere else in the world. But why? Is it due to nutrition? The good weather? Or genetics? Scientists around the world are attempting to solve the mystery. 91-year-old Antonangelo leads a busy life. Every morning, he goes to milk his…

From DW Documentary. Boys strapped to camels’ backs race at breakneck speeds through the desert at dawn. Bedouins on dozens of pickup trucks follow them, cheering them on and trying to keep pace. Welcome to Zalaga! The annual camel race in Zalaga, in the south of the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula, is one of the oldest…

From DW Documentary. Dementia is currently the seventh leading cause of death and one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people. Over 55 million people worldwide live with dementia, a number expected to rise to 139 million by 2050, with the greatest increases in low and middle-income countries where 60% of…

From DW Documentary. It’s the smallest and most mysterious army in the world: the Pontifical Swiss Guard. The film accompanies these men of faith and combat, from their recruitment in Switzerland to their military training in the heart of the Vatican. Made up of 150 men, this elite corps lives in barracks in the heart…

From DW Documentary. In April 1943, the first armed uprising against the Nazi occupiers breaks out, in the Warsaw Ghetto. Borne out of desperation and bound to fail, the revolt becomes one of the key events of World War Two. In 1940, hundreds of thousands of people, most of them Jewish, were crammed into a…

From DW Documentary. In April 1943, the first armed uprising against the Nazi occupiers breaks out, in the Warsaw Ghetto. Borne out of desperation and bound to fail, the revolt becomes one of the key events of World War Two. In 1940, hundreds of thousands of people, most of them Jewish, were crammed into a…

From DW Documentary. Ecuador is at risk of becoming a narco-state. The country was considered one of the safest countries in South America, but that reputation has now changed. Ecuador is facing its highest murder rate and the highest in South America. #documentary #dwdocumentary #dwdocs #ecuador ______ We kindly ask viewers to read and stick…

From DW Documentary. Major chocolate manufacturers have pledged to combat and eliminate child labor. They made this commitment more than 20 years ago. But even today, more than a million minors are still working on cocoa plantations. How is this possible? In 2002, the chocolate industry made a contractual commitment to ban child labor on…

From DW Documentary. The high-rise housing estates in the north of Marseille are in the grip of drug gangs. Residents of these underserved neighborhoods are forced to live with violence and a lack of opportunities. But not everyone is willing to accept the situation. In the areas known as the "Quartiers Nord" or "Northern Quarters"…

From DW Documentary. When we destroy wild habitats, we push animals closer to humans, and with them, the diseases they carry. 75% of all new infectious diseases, like Ebola, AIDS, and COVID-19 come from animals. As we destroy forests and go deeper into wild habitats, we increase the risk of those diseases being transmitted to…

From DW Documentary. On the internet, the offer looks very serious: a start to a new life without dialysis, with a new kidney in just a few weeks. A glimmer of hope for seriously ill people who have been waiting for years for a donor organ. Behind it all is a network of internationally sought-after…

From DW Documentary. In 2002, a law was passed in Germany to legalize sex work as a service. Vivien worked as an escort and dominatrix for four years. Christina was forced into sex work by her drug-addicted mother. The change in the law regarding sex work presupposes that people offer sexual services voluntarily and that…

From DW Documentary. Pirates of the high seas still enjoy a romantic image, today. Many legends surround the most famous buccaneers. But who were these men? Simple sailors or brutal thieves? How did they live? This film journeys back in time for answers. The period between 1690 and 1730 is considered the golden age of…

From DW Documentary. The Colorado River is drying up! Over 40 million people in the western United States and northern Mexico depend on the Colorado River’s water. But the water supply has been pushed to its limit and most of it flows into agriculture. In addition, to this day, water from the river is distributed…

From DW Documentary. Cyberspace is less secure than ever before. Hackers exploit human error or technical loopholes to steal data — or publish it on the darknet, if the ransom demanded is not paid. It’s a practice wiith catastrophic consequences. It can happen to anyone: Private individuals, companies, administrations, schools and even hospitals are falling…

From DW Documentary. Cappadocia is a UNESCO World Heritage gem, but its beauty and culture are at risk. With over 4 million tourists flocking for the perfect Instagram shot. While tourism injects vital revenue into the local economy, some residents are questioning if the focus is being reduced to a show for tourists, and the…

From DW Documentary. Mundiya Kepanga’s fight against deforestation has paid off. The leader of the Huli tribe in the forests of Papua New Guinea is delighted that the government wants to make the country a global role model for sustainable forest management. Mundiya Kepanga was born in the forests of Papua New Guinea and has…

From DW Documentary. Long one of the safest countries in South America, Ecuador is at risk of becoming a narco-state. 1,300 people were murdered in the first 50 days of 2025. This film follows victims’ families, documenting their strength as they fight for democracy. "Ecuador is transforming into a country in which stealing and killing…

From DW Documentary. Glamor, glitz and grandiosity: Indian weddings are often on a huge scale. But the cost of the opulent weddings plunges many families into debt. For many Indian couples, their wedding is the most important event of their lives. Celebrations go on for days and even weeks, often with hundreds of guests. The…

From DW Documentary. Corona, AIDS and the Spanish flu have claimed many millions of lives. Now, researchers around the world are trying to better predict and prevent pandemics like these in the future. A vet visits Klaus Hoffmann’s chicken coop with an assistant and a portable laboratory. The goal of the project is to detect…

From DW Documentary. Young people are among the population most impacted by the global housing crisis. In Latin America, despite recognizing housing as a right, people face huge barriers to finding affordable, decent homes. It’s not just about securing a home, it’s about finding something sustainable and affordable. In many countries, housing costs have increased…

From DW Documentary. The trauma of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda is stilled etched in the lives of survivors. A Rwandan organization uses creativity to soothe the psychological wounds and ensure that history does not repeat itself. 31-year-old Amani survived the genocide as a child. In one of the poorer districts of the…

From DW Documentary. Offshore wind energy is being massively expanded in Europe. This is having some harmful effects on marine wildlife. Marine researchers in the North Sea are investigating just how serious the problem is. What they have discovered is astonishing. Artificial reefs with completely new biotopes are forming underwater at the foundations of the…

From DW Documentary. Space is a contested area. World powers and private corporations alike are launching more and more rockets and satellites into space. But these constructions all leave behind scrap metal, which continues to orbit the earth at high speed. For almost 60 years, Americans, Russians, numerous other nations and an increasing number of…

From DW Documentary. In the USA, agriculture is dominated by two magic words: productivity and profitability. The two million farmers in the United States are impressive businessmen. But their agribusiness is causing great damage. Oversized farms, fattening facilities and pesticides: when it comes to producing more and more, almost anything goes. On cattle fattening farms…

From DW Documentary. Italy’s right-wing government is legislating against queer families. Children with two mothers or two fathers don’t align with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s conservative family ideal. Same-sex couples now see themselves threatened by discrimination at the hands of the state. Daniela and Valentina are a lesbian couple from Padua. They’ve been in a…

From DW Documentary. Communicating with deceased relatives is now possible thanks to virtual reality. Companies around the world are working with artificial intelligence to allow people to live on after their death. Could grieving become a thing of the past? Justin Harrison, founder of the app "You, Only Virtual”, enables the bereaved to communicate with…

From DW Documentary. Miriam and Tua, two young Muslim women who grew up in Germany. They tell their very personal stories. Germany is home to around 5.5 million Muslims. Studies estimate that approximately 30 percent of Muslim women wear a headscarf. The veil is a frequent topic of debate in Germany. Courts have ruled against…

From DW Documentary. Italy’s right-wing government is legislating against rainbow families. Children with two mothers or two fathers don’t align with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s conservative family ideal. Same-sex couples now see themselves threatened by discrimination at the hands of the state. Daniela and Valentina are a lesbian couple from Padua. They’ve been in a…

From DW Documentary. Armenia, a former Soviet republic, is located in the South Caucasus. Since the early 20th century, the mountainous country has been the scene of geopolitical conflicts. Armenia, and the Nagorno-Karabakh region that once belonged to it, have long histories: the cradle of early civilizations, they have been the target of numerous invasions…

From DW Documentary. Some horse owners are willing to spend thousands to get their horses the best medical care possible. 🐴💰 At the Lüsche Equine Clinic in Germany, the level of care rivals that at top human hospitals. Horses undergo complex surgeries and receive cutting-edge rehabilitation. But it doesn’t come cheap. #documentary #dwdocumentary #dwdocs #Horses…

From DW Documentary. Earth is constantly under attack. The culprit? Asteroids, which regularly hurtle towards our planet. Often, they only just miss hitting us. The consequences of a collision could be catastrophic: 66 million years ago, an asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs. The collision of a 10-kilometer asteroid with our planet 66 million years ago…

From DW Documentary. Panama’s famous canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. But, this important gateway for world trade is increasingly blocked. Cargo ships often have to wait weeks for passage, because water levels in the canal are too low. The cause? Drought. Every day, 30 – 40 ships pass through the Panama Canal, carrying…

From DW Documentary. A special veterinary clinic in the northern German town of Lüsche is a global destination for horse owners. They flock here, thanks to head surgeon Dr. Jan Hein Swagemakers’ minimally invasive surgery – a technique he learned operating on humans. Sometimes, the ailing horse travels to the clinic by plane. After landing…

From DW Documentary. Some twenty years ago vultures were close to extinction in much of Europe. Since then, the birds have been successfully reintroduced in parts of Germany, Spain and France. They may be back, but vultures still face many dangers. With a wingspan of up to three meters, the bearded vulture is one of…

From DW Documentary. From social media trends to beauty products, gemstones are everywhere. But have you ever wondered where they come from? The demand for ‘healing’ crystals and gemstones is booming, but these pretty materials are mined under questionable conditions in the Global South and the people who mine them are often overlooked. For example,…

From DW Documentary. Prolonged periods of drought are threatening the land and the culture of the Turkana-Ngaremara people in northern Kenya. In the shadow of tribal conflicts and the climate crisis, orphaned shepherd boy Kolei questions his identity as a warrior. During a period of record low rainfall in northern Kenya, the Turkana tribe faces…

From DW Documentary. Water is scarce, but global demand continues to rise. Humanity is facing serious disputes over our most important resource. What impact is our lifestyle having on our planet’s water cycles? Along six rivers on four continents, the documentary explores the question of why this vital resource, water, is becoming increasingly scarce –…

From DW Documentary. Peatlands are incredible carbon sinks! They’re a type of wetland, basically an ecosystem that is covered in water. But the water in peatlands doesn’t have much oxygen, which keeps dead organic matter from breaking down completely. 🌱 That’s great news for the climate! Instead of releasing a bunch of CO2 during decomposition,…

From DW Documentary. Removal of the foreskin is the most common operation performed on male children worldwide. Male circumcision is done for religious, cultural or medical reasons. In Africa, the WHO used male circumcision in the fight against AIDS. But more and more doctors say that the harm done by the procedure outweighs any medical…

From DW Documentary. Filmed in secret, this documentary is a behind-the-scenes look at the "Woman, Life, Freedom” uprising in Iran. The story begins a few weeks after the death of Jina Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish student who died on 16 September 2022. She had allowed a few strands of hair to escape from her…

From DW Documentary. Ireland, one of the most expensive countries in Europe to live in, is facing a severe housing shortage. Dublin is particularly affected. The few properties that are left can only be rented at extremely high prices. Fewer and fewer people can afford to live in the city. Not only are rents increasing,…