Director: Laura Poitras
Featuring: Edward Snowden, Glenn Greenwald, Jacob Applebaum, Ewen MacAskill, Laura Poitras
Certificate: 15
Special Features: 3 extra scenes – Hong Kong: Day One Inside the CIA / Hong Kong: Day One Taking Action / Three Weeks After Hong Kong / 2 Short films – Death of a Prisoner / The Program
If by some twist of unexpected distraction you have no knowledge of Edward Snowden and the revelations of his first-hand information revealed to the world about the NSA, then Citizenfour will legitimately open your eyes to the truth of modern surveillance.
You know how many jest about saying a specific word on the phone that will be picked up by government intelligence? Well this was actually happening (still is?) to every American citizen and the reality is we shouldn’t be joking and ought to be taking action to stop it happening.
Director and filmmaker Laura Poitras had already been working on her documentary about surveillance when Snowden first contacted her under the codename Citizenfour. Under communication concealed by encrypted message, they began to discuss certain issues that our whistleblower felt the world should know. Once Snowden revealed that he was an analyst working for the NSA, Poitras setup a meeting with very specific journalists to share the story further and get it out to the people who should know; all of us.
Even as a documentary, and knowing the outcomes, Laura Poitras’ work is an intense, wholly gripping film that gives us a deep insight into what occurred and why Snowden felt this was the time to come out with the information. Most importantly, it reminds us there should be a noticeable, transparent space between what we’re told and how intelligence is cultivated and, in turn, how the government uses it.
The film raises justifiable questions regarding our freedom and individual personal privacy. Frankly, it’s such a huge subject to initially comprehend that you can fully understand Snowden’s frustration that the majority of the modern media are obsessed with glorifying celebrity to distract us. Whilst many hide essential information behind smoke and mirrors, it’s reasonable that many forget to question the reality of the world, as we’re all misdirected. I simply found myself agreeing with his frustrations, which reflect how the news is reported and I also believe it’s shifted immensely over the last 5-10 years. I love my movies and their escapism but documentaries like this that recall and tell deep, disturbing truths are hugely important to our humanity and especially when they highlight the importance of free speech.
People censor themselves because they’re worried about what they might say. This is wrong. We shouldn’t accept a loss of privacy because it’s only mislaid when we choose to let it go and disregard that it’s something we need to fight for. Politics shouldn’t be a secret window in which only one side can see the certainty of a situation, we should all continue to have a say.
Not only does Citizenfour raise necessary and serious questions, it strongly suggests to the viewer not to forget this occurred and in all probability is still happening. Poitras alongside Ewen MacAskill and Glenn Greenwald are the best of journalism in this circumstance as they break down the story to the masses and keep every ounce of integrity. Real-life stories in this vein are beyond important; they’re imperative for our future.
Citizenfour is available to own on DVD from Dogwoof on September 14. Find more information by clicking here.
