Follow the breathtaking adventures of divers looking for pearls in the Persian Gulf and learn how the gems brought fortune to the islands of Bahrain.
Social & External
The people behind it
Derek Jacobi
Self
Documentary about Japanese pearl fishers.
For three decades now, Qatar, this small desert kingdom, has not stopped being talked about; because of its financial power and the secrecy that surrounds it, the royal family that runs it fascinates as much as it frightens.
In 1971, Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE ceased to be part of Britain’s empire in the Middle East and became fully independent states. BBC News Persia and BBC Arabic collaborate in this gripping film, to uncover the secrets and shady deals that underpinned the decolonization process. From eye-witness accounts of a British-organised coup to Iran being left in control of disputed islands, it's a fascinating insight to a murky history.
An original documentary, this film contains previously classified footage provided by the Defense Department. Included is an exclusive on-camera "host" appearance by General Colin Powell, actual archival and pictorial footage, interviews, narrative with celebrities and key military personnel and the returning home after Desert Storm.
Climate change disrupts lives and relationships – especially in the Persian Gulf, where temperatures can exceed 50°C and society is divided between the privileged few who can protect themselves, and migrants who have no choice but to endure the heat in order to make ends meet.
As the "Arab Spring" protests for justice and democracy spread through the middle east in early 2011, people long repressed by the Bahrain monarchy spontaneously gathered at the central Pearl Square to join in the call for their rights.
A friendly football match between Bahrein and Togo in 2010, turns out to be rigged, as the team representing Togo is a fake team set up by international gamblers. The bad guys turn out to be victims, the good guy is revealed as the international gambling criminal while the top crooks stay out of sight since they have the power to determine who’ll be convicted. A revealing peek into a hidden world.
A short documentary experiment on a trip to Bahrain, exploring nostaglia as a borrowed perspective.
Sir David Attenborough unveils the two stunning underwater realms of Saudi Arabia - the flamboyant Red Sea and the contrasting hot muddy Gulf, capturing for the first time the rare event of Palolo worms spawning at night.
Seven years after the fact, the true story of Desert Storm is coming into view. Despite the dominance of the Coalition victory, the outcome was by no means certain when the fighting began. DESERT STORM: THE ULTIMATE WAR uses the testimony of many high ranking American officers to tell the complete tale of the first real test of the new military. In their remarkable stories, an intimate portrait of the war emerges, much different from the sanitized version the world saw nightly on CNN. Learn of the revolutionary weapons systems that lived up to their billing in their first real test and those that didn't. And discover how the lessons learned in Iraq have already reshaped the American military, further honing a fighting force transformed since Vietnam.
In this exclusive documentary BBC News Arabic investigates cases of alleged human rights abuses in Bahrain that have taken place against the backdrop of the Formula 1 Grand Prix. Speaking on camera for the first time, one woman tells the BBC she was tortured and raped in a security complex after protesting against the Grand Prix in 2017. The Bahraini government disputes her claims. The documentary also investigates whether Britain and the US have been complicit in the regimes alleged human rights abuses by providing training and funding to Bahrain’s security forces. A warning that there are some descriptions of sexual violence in this report.
Bear Grylls takes His Highness Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa on a mission across the Bahraini kingdom. Their journey will involve jumping from helicopters, journeying on camels and horses, hunting for prey to help a local tribe, improvisation when it comes to making a meal and diving for pearls.
LETTERS, a dramatic historical fiction written by Mrs. Evelyn Merritt in 2010, tells the story of U.S. soldiers and their loved ones through their correspondence beginning with the Civil War and ending with the War in Iraq. Sahuarita High School students adapted the Readers’ Theatre play into a movie, reasoning the student actors would be kept safe from Covid-19 by filming them individually, and afterward the footage could be reassembled into a screenplay following the original dialogue.
A group of American soldiers stationed in Iraq at the end of the Gulf War find a map they believe will take them to a huge cache of stolen Kuwaiti gold hidden near their base, and they embark on a secret mission that's destined to change everything.
While many harrowing tales have come forth through news reports of how Indians choosing to work in Gulf countries face inhumane treatment, 'Gulf' charts the journey of Shiva and Lakshmi who go to Dubai in search of greener pastures.
Pathemari features the life of Pallikkal Narayanan who migrated to the Middle-East in the early 1980s, when the Kerala Gulf boom was at its peak.
People living at a seashore town are frightened by reports of an unknown creature called "the sea devil". Nobody knows what it is, but it's really the son of doctor Salvator. The doctor performed surgery on his son and now young Ichtiander can live under water. This gives him certain advantages, but also creates a lot of problems.
Two brothers, one wanted for murder, are shipwrecked on an island inhabited by nubile young women who have amassed a valuable cache of pearls.
A short experimental film made in Bahrain by Waheeda Malullah.
Set during the Arab-Israeli war of 1967, this epic drama is both the personal story of a middle-class Bahraini family and an account of the hopes and faith the Arab world had in Jamal Abdul Nasser as its leader. Intimately told, it skillfully interweaves the personal and the general to reveal a society built on male domination and female sacrifice, as women attempt to enjoy freedom of choice.
Bonded by their love of freediving, a record-setting champion and a heroic safety diver try to make history with a remarkable feat, ready to risk it all.
Described as being a film about determination, danger and the ocean’s greatest depths, James Cameron's "Deepsea Challenge 3D" tells the story of Cameron’s journey to fulfill his boyhood dream of becoming an explorer. The movie offers a unique insight into Cameron's world as he makes that dream reality – and makes history – by becoming the first person to travel solo to the deepest point on the planet.
Deep Blue is a major documentary feature film shot by the BBC Natural History Unit. An epic cinematic rollercoaster ride for all ages, Deep Blue uses amazing footage to tell us the story of our oceans and the life they support.
Never-before-seen footage and survivor accounts trace the 2012 shipwreck of a luxury cruise and the disaster that ensued, in this immersive documentary.
Marine conservationist and social media activist Ocean Ramsey fearlessly swims with sharks in this documentary about her risky mission to protect them.
This documentary follows a team of local archaeologists excavating never before explored passageways, shafts, and tombs, piecing together the secrets of Egypt’s most significant find in almost 50 years in Saqqara.
Echo is a youngster who can't quite decide if it's time to grow up and take on new responsibilities-or give in to her silly side and just have fun. Dolphin society is tricky, and the coral reef that Echo and his family call home depends on all of its inhabitants to keep it healthy. But Echo has a tough time resisting the many adventures the ocean has to offer.
Daniel Craig candidly reflects on his 15 year adventure as James Bond. Including never-before-seen archival footage from Casino Royale to the upcoming 25th film No Time To Die, Craig shares his personal memories in conversation with 007 producers, Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.
Filmmaker Christopher Quinn observes the ordeal of three Sudanese refugees -- Jon Bul Dau, Daniel Abul Pach and Panther Bior -- as they try to come to terms with the horrors they experienced in their homeland, while adjusting to their new lives in the United States.
With a team of the world's foremost historic and marine experts as well as friend Bill Paxton, James Cameron embarks on an unscripted adventure back to the wreck of the Titanic where nearly 1,500 souls lost their lives almost a century ago.
James Cameron and Simcha Jacobovici go on an adventure to find the lost city of Atlantis by using Greek philosopher Plato as a virtual treasure map.
Al Pacino's deeply-felt rumination on Shakespeare's significance and relevance to the modern world through interviews and an in-depth analysis of "Richard III."
Sea life in a whole new way. Deep Sea 3D, an underwater adventure from the filmmakers behind the successful IMAX® 3D film Into the Deep, transports audiences deep below the ocean surface. Through the magic of IMAX®; and IMAX 3D, moviegoers will swim with some of the planets most unique, dangerous and colorful creatures, and understand this inspiring underworld.
The Cove tells the amazing true story of how an elite team of individuals, films makers and free divers embarked on a covert mission to penetrate the hidden cove in Japan, shining light on a dark and deadly secret. The shocking discoveries were only the tip of the iceberg.
Nine filmmakers each profile a young girl from a different part of the world to weave a global tapestry of youth in the 21st century.
An epic story of adventure, starring some of the most magnificent and courageous creatures alive, awaits you in EARTH. Disneynature brings you a remarkable story of three animal families on a journey across our planet – polar bears, elephants and humpback whales.
Bruce Brown's The Endless Summer is one of the first and most influential surf movies of all time. The film documents American surfers Mike Hynson and Robert August as they travel the world during California’s winter (which, back in 1965 was off-season for surfing) in search of the perfect wave and ultimately, an endless summer.
An inside look at one of the most anticipated movie sequels ever with James Cameron and cast.
African Cats captures the real-life love, humor and determination of the majestic kings of the savanna. The story features Mara, an endearing lion cub who strives to grow up with her mother’s strength, spirit and wisdom; Sita, a fearless cheetah and single mother of five mischievous newborns; and Fang, a proud leader of the pride who must defend his family from a once banished lion.
In an intimate and joyful story of love in the face of loss, celebrated poets Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley find strength—and unexpected hilarity—in what might be their final year together.