Hero or Villain? The Prosecution of Julian Assange

The Prosecution of Julian Assange

Julian Assange is one of the most influential figures to emerge this century. The Australian born founder of WikiLeaks has harnessed the technology of the digital age to unleash an information war against governments and corporations. Now facing extradition to the US on espionage charges and with his legal fight in full swing, Assange supporters, even some of his critics, warn his prosecution marks a very dangerous chapter for freedom of speech and the public’s right to know. The ABC Four Corners team investigate the momentous events that have led to this moment and what emerges is a picture of a polarising figure lauded and dismissed as a hero and a villain.

Silent Forests

A rare glimpse inside the forest elephant poaching crisis

More than half of the Central-African forest elephant population has been decimated by poachers in the last decade. Following one of Cameroon’s first female eco-guards, a grassroots law enforcement group, a Congolese biologist, a reformed poacher and a Czech activist, this intimate, character-driven portrait gains remarkable access to an under-reported region, the Congo Basin, to understand the global poaching and ivory trade crises we face.

Rewilding

Large-scale conservation aimed at restoring balance of the natural world

For a long time, many species have been so scarce that they are hardly ever seen. Humanity has wiped out over fifty percent of all mammals, birds and fish in as many years. Across Europe, efforts to restore the balance of ecosystems damaged by the human footprint are now seeing returns of many wild animals close to extinction. But not everyone is happy with their return.

Free Men

Love and Art on Death Row

Sentenced to death, many of us would give up on life. But from his death row cell, Kenneth Reams refuses to be limited. He falls in love with Isabelle, a French artist who wants to become his wife. Together they fight for justice for a murder he didn’t commit, at the same time arranging exhibitions of Kenneth's own art. Narrated by Reams, this doc profiles one prisoner's extraordinary struggle for freedom, justice and love against the odds.

Where the Light Shines

Afghanistan's first ski team reach for a brighter future

It takes Sajjad and Alishah four hours to climb the Bamyan peaks behind their village carrying their skis, and just four minutes to glide to the bottom again, as their families and neighbours look on incredulously. Yet when they get a chance to compete to qualify for the Winter Olympics in South Korea, the first time Afghanistan is represented in the sport, in their wake they leave hope for a brighter future, as local children strap wood to their feet and tumble down the snowy banks in imitation. Filmed over four years, Where the Light Shines paints an uplifting and refreshing portrait of Afghanistan as you haven't seen it before, as the two sportsmen face up to the difficulties of creating opportunities in a country that for generations has only seen war.

Brexit Behind Closed Doors

Inside the Brexit negotiations

From formidable opponent to laughing stock in the space of two short years: this is the story of Brexit Britain as told by the European politicians tasked with negotiating an exit deal. With exclusive access to the European parliament’s Brexit Steering Group, this revelatory fly on the wall documentary captures the internal workings of European negotiators as they deal with an increasingly beleaguered Britain. As Europe contends with a decidedly un-United Kingdom, the austere corridors and dim-lit offices of Brussels become the stage for a human drama of epic proportions; a fractured tale that is by turns exasperating, tragic and hilarious.

Hunting For Hedonia

An exploration of the human brain, science and the mysteries of our minds

What if there was a place deep in the brain that can take you from pain to pleasure? What if tiny pulsing electrodes in your head could change your mind? Hunting for Hedonia explores the effects of a revolutionary technique employed by leading neuroscientists called Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS); the implementation of a device that sends out electric impulses to manipulate parts of the brain. First explored by pioneers in the 1960s, the treatment has led to incredible progress in treating illnesses such as Parkinson’s disease, severe depression and eating disorders. But what future lies ahead for the human mind when we start tampering with our brain and emotions?

Moonwalk One

The NASA commissioned and digitally-remastered film of the first moon-landing

The moon-landing of July 1969 remains an iconic event in human history, and one of mankind’s greatest achievements. First released in 1970, this pioneering documentary is a philosophical and poetic account of humanity’s unique ambition. Remastered for the digital age and utilising previously undiscovered footage, it offers a new generation the chance to witness the drama of the first lunar expedition, and to sense the excitement of a world on the brink of making history.

This Little Land of Mines

Living in the most heavily bombed country in the world

During the Vietnam War, the US secretly bombed Laos more heavily than any other country on Earth. Spanning over three terms of US presidents, it was the largest covert CIA operation in US history. Today, the Laos people live among and risk their lives to clear over 80 million of these unexploded bombs from their doorsteps, one by one. With great beauty and empathy, This Little Land of Mines reveals the unbelievable stories of the men and women at the forefront of this movement, paving the way towards a brighter future.