Biographical documentaries

Adolf Hitler was careful to cultivate a cult of personality. Images of him were carefully selected by the Nazi propaganda machine. This extraordinary documentary features photos and film from two photographers who dedicated their lives to documenting Hitler: Heinrich Hoffmann and assistant Eva Braun. Unpublished photos and hours of amateur film footage show a rare glimpse of the unseen Hitler.

The Struggle
Hitler struggled to be noticed until he joined a little-known right ring political party.

From his childhood through to the end of the First World War, Hitler struggled to be noticed. But as this fascinating history documentary discovers, joining a little-known right wing political party, known as the Nazis, changed his fortunes. Together with photographer Heinrich Hoffmann he cultivated a memorable image that would help him gain notoriety and take a stranglehold on power.

In Power
Once in power, Hitler and the Nazis perfected the latest propaganda techniques.

Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933. Once they were elected, the Nazis incorporated the latest propaganda techniques of photography, film, and radio to mold Germany to their own vision. As this compelling history documentary shows, at the heart of the new Nazi regime was a carefully crafted image of the Fuhrer as a powerful leader who was completely dedicated to protecting the nation.

Hitler’s Secret Life
Hitler presented himself as a single man, devoted only to Germany.

But this was a lie. To the outside world, Hitler was as a single man, devoted only to Nazi Germany. But, as this insightful history documentary reveals, in private he needed the companionship of women, most notably his niece Geli Raubal and his mistress Eva Braun. Both their lives would end in suicide. Eva Braun’s home movies provide a valuable and rarely seen insight into Hitler’s inner circle and true nature.

Warlord
After the humiliation of the First World War, Hitler was determined to crush all dissent.

After the humiliation of the First World War, Hitler was determined to crush communism and create ‘Lebensraum’ or living space for Germany. His ambition drove him to war in a bid for German global domination. But, as this revealing history documentary shows, what he created ultimately led to his downfall and one of the greatest disasters the world has ever seen, much of it captured on film.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has grown into a political giant, reshaping Turkey more than any leader in recent times. This fascinating political documentary charts his rise from humble roots to a powerful, controversial ruler. How did he reach such heady heights, what methods has he used to quell dissent, what controversies have dogged his regime and how far is he willing to go to hang onto power?

EP 1: Rise To Power
The early political life of Erdogan including imprisonment and a remarkable comeback.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan is one of the most powerful rulers in Turkish history. But where did he come from? This fascinating documentary charts his rise from the popular mayor of Istanbul to a period in prison and banishment from political life. He soon reversed this ban and became a pioneering Prime Minister. But after 10 years of rule, a massive protest movement threatened to topple his government.

Ep 2: Facing Dissent
Erdogan cracks down hard on dissent, becoming the most powerful leader of modern Turkey.

After a decade in office Erdogan, once a popular ruler in Turkey, now faced a massive protest movement, coupled with a corruption scandal. This compelling political documentary looks at how Erdogan quashed dissent and consolidated his power, eventually becoming President. But soon a violent coup would put his life in danger. How would Erdogan survive this latest attempt to oust him from office?

Once upon a time, the lives of kings and queens were ones of unimaginable luxury. But these days, they are swapping their horse-drawn carriages for bicycles and Downton Abbey for a downtown apartment. Journalist Katty Kay visits the crumbling castles and penthouse flats where Europe’s modern monarchs reside and reign. Along the way she tries to uncover if monarchy can survive in the modern world.

Denmark

How does the Danish monarchy stay so popular and relevant in the modern era? In egalitarian Denmark, the royal family still enjoys enormous popularity. How do they do it? In this insightful documentary, Katty Kay heads to Copenhagen and discovers a monarchy with no pretensions. Regalia and ceremony are rarely witnessed, royal family
numbers are kept low and the Queen regularly mingles with her subjects. But occasional regal scandals can still shock the nation.

Norway

In Norway, Katty Kay discovers a modest monarchy with a distinctly wild, scandalous edge. Norway has no aristocracy, no minor royals and hardly even any private school system. Yet King Harald is loved by nearly all, par tly due to a lifetime of perceived good behavior. Katty Kay continues her deep dive into Europe’s monarchy and discovers that Norway’s royals are a mix of fierce tradition and bizarre modernity featuring shamans, ex-ravers and tabloid exposed scandals.

Belgium

Belgium’s king is beloved, but how can he stay separate from the nation’s brutal history? Belgium is a nation where, one politician quipped, the only uniting elements are football, beer and the king. King Phillipe has been a stable presence in a country rife with division. As Katty Kay discovers in this intriguing documentary, while the monarchy is appreciated, Belgium’s brutal, colonial history is not. How can these divisive factors reconcile themselves heading into the future?

Albania

Albania has no monarchy. Kitty Kay meets the prince that’s hoping to change that. Europe is littered with old thrones that have been lost to war, revolutions, and referendums. Many hope to stage a comeback. In Albania, the chances for a return to monarchy seem most likely. Kitty Kay concludes her revealing regal documentary by visiting the former communist state and meeting the man who dreams of ruling once again. But can he use the power of social media to return to the throne?