Blanchisserie de France

Examines the two Boer wars that the British fought in South Africa, focusing on two epic battle of the second war.

Based on biography of the Russian surgeon Nikolai Ivanovich Pirogov (1810 - 1881). Pirogov lost his father at age 14. He vigorously studied medicine and was qualified as physician in 1828, still only 17 years old. Pirogov continued his studies in Europe and received a chair of surgery at the German University of Dorpat. From 1840 he practiced general surgery in St. Petersburg, Russia. In 1851 he invented the full-plaster cast after seeing a working sculptor. During the Crimean War (1854 - 1856) doctor Pirogov was a surgeon in Sevastopol. There he introduced the mass use of anesthetic. His innovative surgical techniques saved many lives. Pirogov promoted equal rights and access to education for women.

This one-hour documentary traces the rise and fall of Li Xianglan, a.k.a. Shirley Yamaguchi, deftly navigated the clash of nations to become one of Japan and China's biggest movie stars during World War II. A Manchurian born Japanese who could "pass" as Chinese, she was a propagandist's dream. She rose to fame in a series of Japanese romantic melodramas playing the Chinese girl who falls in love with a Japanese man. For a while it worked, but when Japan lost the war her cover was blown and she nearly faced a firing squad. A double life; a dangerous game. Ms Li passed away last September. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII. The documentary provides an opportunity to reflect on the lasting impact of that conflict, and how it affects the life of East Asia's most iconic super star.

Gary, a brazen Vietnam vet of many ups and downs, dreams of selling his boiled peanuts across the USA from a pink elephant pulled by a steam engine train...but his dream may be out of reach.

3-part series exploring political and military power in Israel; how Moshe Dayan, Yitzhak Rabin and Ariel Sharon shaped the destiny of Israel, and indeed the entire Middle East.