Citizenfour | Laura Poitras | NYFF 2014
Now famous whistleblower Edward Snowden changed everything in June 2013 when he shared the frightening invasions of privacy that the National Security Agency have been engaging on United States citizens. The news was beyond unsettling, making Laura Poitras’ Citizenfour much more than a film, but a revealing piece of history that should be shown in schools across the country.
Months before the big reveal, Poitras received a mysterious encrypted email from someone under the handle of “Citizen Four.” He hinted that he had critical information about the numerous ways that the NSA was invading the privacy of U.S. citizens and wanted to work with her, as she had already been working on a film about American surveillance, and having previously been a target of government surveillance herself. He revealed to her the level of information that he said, and Poitras persuaded him to let her film what happened next, and thank god she did.
In June (2013) she traveled to Hong Kong where she met up with the man behind the Citizen Four handle, Edward Snowden. It’s in a quaint hotel room that Potrais, along with journalists Glenn Greenwald and Ewen MacAskill, where they learn just what Snowden uncovers, and what it means. Potrais’ camera is with them every step of the way, filming their initial meeting, to the moment where they learn just what he’s uncovered. She captures personal moments of reflection from Snowden, who internalizes what exactly he’s done, and what exactly that means. It’s a first hand look at one of the most important stories of our time, and it’s done practically in real time.
Even if you know all the details of his revelations, seeing how it all went down in a sobering journey that gives us a first hand look at a major piece of history. We gain insight into a historic moment as it was happening. What Poitras has done here is a game-changer for both journalism and documentary filmmaking. It’s expertly made, bone-chilling to the point where it captures something that even the best spy-thriller couldn’t. The bar has been raised.
Citizenfour had it’s premiere at the New York Film Festival this fall, shown for the first time live for both members of the press, as well as the regular audience. As we left the theater, we were able to talk about what we had seen live, able to give a real reaction without any outside influences. I was left feeling quite paranoid and unsettled by the information that Snowden reveals to us.
When there are points of the film where new discoveries leave the whistleblower shocked and speechless, how the hell are we supposed to feel?
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