Documentary AreaSimply the best Documentaries

This featured films offers a gripping dive into one of the most dramatic moments in space exploration history. In April 1970, what began as a routine mission to the moon turned into a life-threatening ordeal when an unexpected explosion crippled the Apollo 13 spacecraft. With limited oxygen, power, and no margin for error, three astronauts found themselves in a desperate fight for survival. This documentary unveils the heart-stopping events that unfolded over four days, capturing the tension, innovation, and teamwork that made their safe return possible. Featuring never-before-seen footage and firsthand accounts, it's an unforgettable story of human endurance and ingenuity.

This film, which spans all three episodes of the series, is a riveting documentary that traces the incredible journey of Volodymyr Zelensky, from comedian to wartime president. Director Michael Waldman expertly weaves interviews, political milestones, and footage of Zelensky's rise to fame in the Ukrainian entertainment industry. From his portrayal of a fictional president in Servant of the People to becoming a real-life leader facing the full-scale Russian invasion, the documentary highlights Zelensky's determination, charisma, and humanity.
The film captures the profound contrast between Zelensky and Russian president Vladimir Putin, portraying their intertwined destinies as a battle between light and darkness. With compelling interviews from Zelensky, his wife Olena, and colleagues, it reveals the personal and political struggles that shaped his leadership. This documentary is a must-see, offering a deep, cinematic portrait of a man thrust into the role of a global hero.

Jessie Buckley narrates the extraordinary story of the first transatlantic communications cable. In 16 August 1858, a short message is telegraphed from County Kerry to Newfoundland, 3,000km away: ‘Europe and America are united by telegraph. Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will towards men.’ The Morse code message is conducted along the new underwater transatlantic telegraph cable laid across the bed of the Atlantic Ocean. Sending the same message by ship would have taken at least ten days, but the transmission takes just hours and heralds the dawn of the modern communications age.
The quest is driven by visionaries and pioneers. Among them are Cyrus Field, a wealthy businessman who, despite his immense success, ends his life in poverty; Samuel Morse, inventor of the telegraph and Morse code; Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the British engineer who pushes boundaries and budgets; and Belfast physicist Lord Kelvin, who calculates how to achieve what had hitherto been deemed impossible. Together, their ingenuity and relentless pursuit helps realise one of the great scientific accomplishments of their age for which Valentia, on Ireland’s remote western coast, is ground zero.

A captivating look into the inner workings of our canine companions. Narrated by Rob Lowe, this documentary blends science and emotion, exploring how genetics, biology, and early experiences shape dog behavior. Through insights from organizations like Canine Companions, the film delves into the deep bond between humans and dogs, revealing how these loyal animals think, feel, and interact with the world around them.
Whether you're a dog lover or simply curious, this documentary provides a compelling and heartwarming exploration of what makes dogs so special.

Of all the diseases that plague humankind, malaria has put up one of the longest, toughest fights. More than 200 million people fall ill and 600,000 die of it every year, making it among the world’s deadliest diseases. The vast majority of those fatalities are young children - an average of one child every minute. But medical science may now be at an exciting turning point.
Filmed with intimate access to key scientists on four continents, this documentary tells the inside story of the development of a new malaria vaccine that could change the very nature of the fight. It's hoped that the vaccine, dubbed R21/Matrix-M and developed by many of the same team behind the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, will be the first to meet the World Health Organization’s target of 75 per cent efficacy.

A majestic presence, towering over Paris for more than 130 years, the Eiffel Tower is an iconic symbol of 19th-century progress and grandeur. When it was built for the 1889 Paris world’s fair, its creator, Gustave Eiffel, was at the height of his fame and ready to take on the dream of every engineer and architect - to build the world’s tallest man-made structure. He had just two years, two months and five days to erect his 300-metre iron colossus. Drawing on three decades of civil engineering innovation and works across the globe, Eiffel, a magician of iron building, was perfectly poised for this extraordinary feat.