The History Hour

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service. Our guest is Paulina Guzik, International editor with the Catholic wire service, OSV News.
We start in 1986 when Pope John Paul II visited New Zealand.
Then, we hear about the reunification of Germany in 1989 from a key political advisor.
How one Maasai community overcame a devastating drought in 2013.
The recollections of one of the first people to walk the entire length of the Great Wall of China in 1984.
Next, the first official penalty shootout in 1970 that changed football forever.
Finally, we look at an essay published in 1999 that was an unfiltered look into restaurant kitchen culture.
Contributors:
Michael Jarka - a man who met Pope John Paul II.
Paulina Guzik - OSV News.
Joachim Bitterlich - a key advisor to Chancellor Helmut Kohl.
Dalmas Tiampati - founder of Ildalalekutuk Maasai Action for Development.
Yaohui Dong - one of the first to walk the entire length of the Great Wall of China.
Frankie Banks - former Hull City player.
Martyn Kelly - a football fan.
Philip Lajaunie - Anthony Bourdain's former boss at Les Halles restaurant, New York.
(Photo: Pope John Paul II blesses the crowd during Mass at Auckland Domain. Credit: Reuters/Luciano Mellace)

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service.
We hear from a Cypriot lawyer, imprisoned by the British for almost two years during the "Cyprus Emergency” of 1955-1959.
Our guest, Professor Rebecca Bryant, explains how this period impacted life in Cyprus in the following years.
Plus, the story of India’s controversial nuclear deal with the USA in 2006 and when thousands of people rallied against a racially motivated killing in Norway.
We also learn about the questionable conviction of four men in Mauritius, who became known as the L’Amicale Four, and about how Tunisian independence helped improve women’s rights 70 years ago.
And finally, the remarkable story of when the unfancied Czech Republic reached the final of Euro 96.
Contributors:
Renos Lyssiotis - former Cypriot lawyer.
Dr Rebecca Bryant – Professor of cultural anthropology at Utrecht University.
Ronen Sen – former Indian ambassador to the United States.
Luciana Parvaneh Zehi – friend of Benjamin Hermansen.
Imran Sumodhee – one of the L’Amicale Four.
Saida El Gueyed – founding member of the Women’s Union in Tunisia.
Patrik Berger – former Czech footballer.
(Photo: British troops searching for EOAK fighters in 1956. Credit: Bert Hardy/Getty Images)

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service. Our guest is media, culture and creative industries lecturer Sarah Jilani.

We start in 1954 with the Japanese film Seven Samurai which is widely considered to be one of world cinema's most influential films.

Then, we hear about the 2006 Hindi film Rang de Basanti which broke box-office records and inspired thousands of young Indians to march for justice.

We delve into the BBC Archives to hear from director Leni Riefenstahl about one of the most controversial propaganda movies ever made, Triumph of the Will, which was filmed at the Nazis’ Nuremberg rally in 1934.

Next, we hear about the challenges of making the Hollywood 1942 classic, Casablanca, from the late son and nephew of the screenwriters.

Finally, the story of the Spanish language fantasy, Pan's Labyrinth, which took the world by storm in 2006.

Contributors:

Hisao Kurosawa - movie producer, head of the Kurosawa Production Company and son of Seven Samurai director Akira Kurosawa.

Sarah Jilani - a Lecturer in the Department of Media, Culture and Creative Industries, City St George's, University of London.

Kamlesh Pandey - screenwriter.

Leni Riefenstahl - film maker (from BBC Archive).

Leslie Epstein - the late son and nephew of screenwriters Julius and Philip Epstein respectively.

Ivana Baquero - actress.

(Photo: Ingrid Bergman with Humphrey Bogart in a still from Casablanca. Credit: Universal History Archive/Getty Images)

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service.
We hear how a speech by Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme, in 1972, caused a break down in relations with the USA.
Our guest is an expert in the historic relations between Sweden and the US, Dr Saniya Lee Ghanoui from the University of El Paso in Texas.
Plus, the story of India’s secret first nuclear test in 1974, and Portugal’s worst train crash which killed 150 people.
We also learn about the invention of the mobility scooter in the 1960s and the only time the King of Rock n’ Roll, Elvis, set foot in the UK.
Contributors:
Jan Elliason – former Swedish diplomat.
Dr Saniya Lee Ghanoui – Assistant Professor of history at the University of El Paso.
Dr SK Sikka – former Indian nuclear scientist.
Américo Borges – Portuguese volunteer fire commander.
Al Thieme – the inventor of the mobility scooter.
Anne Murphy – Elvis superfan.
(Photo: Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme in 1972 during the diplomatic freeze with the USA. Credit: Sjöberg Bildbyrå/ullstein bild via Getty Images)

We begin with the trial of the former President of Liberia, Charles Taylor. It was claimed that he traded in arms and ammunition in return for so-called blood diamonds.
Our guest, gemmologist James Evans discusses the creation of synthetic diamonds.
Next we head to Syria where a group of young men in the besieged town of Darayya came together to build a secret library during the civil war.
Plus the start of the Second World War in the Pacific when Japanese troops landed in what was then northern Malaya.
We hear about a meeting between two of the most prominent figures in history from around the turn of the last century. Florence Nightingale and the Aga Khan, Sir Sultan Muhammed Shah.
Our sporting story takes us back to the summer of 1952 when the first Olympics of the Cold War era took place. Czechoslovakian army officer Emil Zatopek achieved a unique feat.
And finally, the moment when Spain's fledgling democratic government appeared to be under threat.
Contributors:
Brenda Hollis - Chief prosecutor at the Charles Taylor trial.
Malik Alrifaii - Volunteer who helped run the Syrian library.
Dorothy Variyan -Lived under Japanese rule during the occupation of the Malay peninsula.
Aga Khan III, Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah - BBC archive interview from 1950.
Richard Asquith - Emil Zatopek's biographer.
Joaquin Almunia - Former Vice President of the European Commission
Presenter: Max Pearson
(Photo: Charles Taylor (rear C) appears in court in 2006. Credit: Rob Keeris/Getty Images)