History documentaries
Stephen Fry: Willem and Frieda - Defying the Nazis
Stephen Fry explores a remarkable story of forgery, sabotage and audacity by the Dutch Resistance that saved thousands of Jews from Hitler’s death camps. Artist Willem Arondeus and musician Frieda Belinfante helped to create fake documentation to fool the Nazi authorities. How has it remained hidden for so long and did the sexuality of the couple lead to their story being forgotten?
Kidnapped: A Georgian Adventure
In 1728, 12-year-old James Annesley was snatched from the streets of Dublin, Ireland and sold into slavery in America. He was the victim of a wicked uncle hell-bent on stealing his massive inheritance. Historian Dan Cruickshank traces James’s astonishing journey from the top table of 18th century society to its murky depths. The story helped inspire Robert Louis Stevenson’s revered book Kidnapped.
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.
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.