Laura Poitras’ documentary posits an American government so terrifying that I am afraid to write a review acknowledging I watched her film. I certainly did not tweet about Citizenfour after I watched it.
In the last part of a trilogy that includes My Country, My Country and The Oath, the Oscar-nominated Poitras and Salon/Guardian reporter Glenn Greenwald documented their many meetings with infamous whistleblower Edward Snowden, capturing an incredible real-life thriller, occurring in something approaching real time.
Who needs “24?” This film is the real deal. Perhaps these people are being paranoid (their early precautions are nearly comical), but that does not mean the NSA and the U.S. government are not watching them. Watching us all, really, if what Snowden revealed is true.
Calling Citizenfour “important” seems an understatement; imagine the historical possibilities had Woodward and Bernstein recorded their meetings with Deep Throat. This documentary is not merely thrilling cinema; it’s history occurring live before our eyes. Snowden experts should come away sated. Those who know little of Snowden’s exploits might be at an early loss but should catch up as the film clearly tells his story.
The doc does a superb job of humanizing this polarizing figure. He comes off as no more harmful than your typical IT guy. Bespectacled and scruffily bearded, Snowden gave up his life to disclose these closely guarded government secrets. Whether you think him a traitor or a patriot, Poitras’s camera argues that he’s just a guy who is merely doing what he believes to be right.
It will be intriguing to see how many waves this documentary makes during awards season. It certainly is not hard to argue that Citizenfour is one of the strongest feature documentaries of the year.
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