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Citizenfour
2014 113 min Germany, United Kingdom, United States of America R 16+
★8.6
Documentary
Director: Laura Poitras
Trailers
EN
Teaser
Teaser
Description
In June 2013, Laura Poitras and reporter Glenn Greenwald flew to Hong Kong for the first of many meetings with Edward Snowden. She brought her camera with her.
US Gross:
$2.8M
Worldwide:
$3M
Starring
Edward Snowden
Actor
Glenn Greenwald
Actor
William Binney
Actor
Awards
Academy Awards 2015
— Best Documentary Feature
BAFTA 2015
— Best Documentary Feature
Key opinion
Citizenfour provides an urgent, real-time look at Edward Snowden’s NSA disclosures, successfully capturing the tension of a political thriller. While audiences and critics largely laud its historical significance and Orwellian atmosphere, some viewers feel the documentary relies too heavily on existing media hype or lacks a balanced, in-depth analysis.
| Direction | The film functions as a high-stakes political thriller that generates genuine, real-time tension through its candid, on-the-ground footage. | |
| Theme | By documenting Snowden's revelations as they unfolded, the film serves as a powerful, Orwellian reminder of the dangers of pervasive state surveillance. | |
| Pacing | The pacing feels uneven, as the final act loses momentum and engagement by shifting focus away from Snowden toward secondary journalists and lawyers. | |
| Originality | Opinions are divided on whether the documentary provides a revelatory, balanced investigation or merely recycles previously reported facts to inflate the Snowden myth. | |
| Emotion | Viewers remain polarized on Snowden's portrayal, with some seeing an inspiring whistleblower and others viewing him as a compromised or over-mythologized figure. |