History documentaries
D-Day: Last Words
June 6th, 1944. Canada, Britain and the US storm the Normandy coast to try and wrestle back Europe from Germany and Nazi control. The soldiers called it The Longest Day. It’s better known as D-Day. This unflinching documentary tells the story of the historic World War II battle through the dramatic recollections of those veterans caught up in the action, sharing stories never heard before.
Byzantium: A Tale of Three Cities
It’s known by some as the ‘Centre of the World’. Simon Sebag Montefiore charts the rise of Istanbul from pagan trading post to capital of three empires and two religions. This one metropolis has been held by the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Each left its mark in its architecture, traditions and in the communities who still populate this vast modern conurbation of 14 million people.
The Boy Who Would Be King
Charles II became known as the ‘Merry Monarch’. But was he a sex-obsessed hedonist with no principles, or a brilliant political strategist with a common touch, who saved the British monarchy? This adventure packed dramatized documentary attempts to find the real Charles, who he was, and what shaped him during his 21 years prior to becoming king of England in 1660.
Paradise Soldiers
As far back as World War One, through Vietnam and up to the present day, young Cook Islanders have served and sacrificed alongside New Zealand in military conflicts and combat. But their stories are largely untold. This fascinating documentary celebrates their contribution to various conflicts, acknowledges their sacrifice in battle and shares their personal stories of bravery and valor.
Union with David Olusoga
National identity, social class, inequality. The modern fault lines dividing the UK can be found in the nation’s formation many centuries ago. Renowned historian David Olusoga reveals the human stories behind one of the world’s most influential but fragile unions: the United Kingdom. How does the fractured way that the nation formed reflect the issues that the UK faces today?