The very tools used to connect us (the internet, smartphones) are shown to be the primary tools used for our subjugation. Critical Reception
Unlike many documentaries that rely on retrospective interviews or flashy graphics, Citizenfour is startlingly intimate.
Holds a 96% "Certified Fresh" rating, with critics calling it a "gripping, essential record." subtitle Citizenfour
Citizenfour is essential viewing for anyone who uses the internet. It is a rare piece of filmmaking that captures the exact moment the "digital age" lost its innocence. Even if you are familiar with the headlines, seeing the human face of the leak—the anxiety, the meticulous planning, and the quiet resolve—is a transformative experience.
Scored an 88/100, indicating "universal acclaim." The very tools used to connect us (the
It won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature in 2015, cementing its place as one of the most important political films of the 21st century. Verdict
Poitras uses long takes and minimal music, letting the sound of a fire alarm or a hotel phone ringing carry the weight of an impending threat. It is a rare piece of filmmaking that
The film’s title comes from the alias Snowden used when he first contacted Poitras via encrypted email. The narrative centers on a tense eight-day period in a Hong Kong hotel room in June 2013. Poitras, along with journalists Glenn Greenwald and Ewen MacAskill from The Guardian, documents the first meetings with Snowden as he prepares to leak classified documents that prove the U.S. government is monitoring the private communications of ordinary citizens worldwide.