Citizenfour

Citizenfour was filmed during a period of heightened anxiety about government surveillance following the 9/11 attacks. The film's significance lies in its challenge to the narrative of ubiquitous surveillance as a necessary evil for national security, highlighting potential abuses of power and the erosion of civil liberties.

• Provides a real-time, firsthand account of Edward Snowden's leak of classified NSA documents, offering unparalleled access to a pivotal moment in history.
• Laura Poitras's direction creates palpable tension and suspense, despite the film's documentary nature, making it feel like a political thriller.
• Raises crucial ethical and moral questions about government surveillance, privacy rights, and the balance between security and freedom in the digital age.
• The film won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, signifying its impact and importance within the film community and beyond.

Fun Facts

• The film's title, 'Citizenfour,' is Edward Snowden's encrypted pseudonym that he used when first contacting Laura Poitras.
• The filmmakers had to take extreme security precautions, including encrypted communications and frequent location changes, to avoid detection by intelligence agencies.
• Some of the initial meetings between Snowden, Poitras, and Glenn Greenwald were held in Hong Kong to take advantage of press freedom laws and extradition treaties with the United States.