Citizenfour

RADiUS-TWC | Release Date: October 24, 2014

7.6	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 157 Ratings

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LynSep 12, 2015

The subject matter is important, so I'm keeping my rating in the upper part of the "yellow" section. But as someone who followed the Snowden case closely (and was more fanatically interested in it than any of my friends), I was surprised howThe subject matter is important, so I'm keeping my rating in the upper part of the "yellow" section. But as someone who followed the Snowden case closely (and was more fanatically interested in it than any of my friends), I was surprised how boring the film is. Honestly, Glenn Greenwald's book was 10 times as suspenseful, interesting and relevant. Definitely worth reading: "No Place to Hide: Edward Snowden, the NSA, and the U.S. Surveillance State."… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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TVJerryNov 10, 2014

The majority of my real job is editing people talking and the maximum length of my videos is usually 2 minutes. This doc is almost 2 hours and I could have easily edited it down to a tight hour or an interesting 90 minutes. The mostThe majority of my real job is editing people talking and the maximum length of my videos is usually 2 minutes. This doc is almost 2 hours and I could have easily edited it down to a tight hour or an interesting 90 minutes. The most extraordinary thing about this film is the footage of Edward Snowden in a Hong Kong hotel, as he prepares for the release of the famous NSA documents. Filmmaker Laura Poitras offers an absorbing glimpse into the man and his motives. Unfortunately, in an attempt to add miniscule moments of insight (which they usually didn't) and arty cinematic touches (which they usually weren't) almost every shot is held too long and the details are just dull. Even with the ominous drone in the soundtrack, the potential tension never materializes. Poitras' exclusive peek is fascinating, but she could have used a more judicious hand in the edit.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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3ebfan511Mar 3, 2015

The film itself, as a piece of art is OK. I just don't find anything compelling in the subject matter. That's a problem. It was mildly interesting but until Snowden made a big deal about it there wasn't really a problem to begin with. IfThe film itself, as a piece of art is OK. I just don't find anything compelling in the subject matter. That's a problem. It was mildly interesting but until Snowden made a big deal about it there wasn't really a problem to begin with. If it was that big of a deal the guy would be dead right now. Its a joke, because the guy was complaining about routine surveillance methods that every country with the technology employs or will employ in the future. Its not a big deal. I found it funny on many levels, both his concern, and in peoples reactions as if its some great fantastic problem. The American people are so dumb it is sad. (The stuff in this movie is not the type of stuff you should be worried about. Its laughable.) As a film, I give it a 5, as a piece of important "work" it would get a 1.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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JamesCannonFeb 26, 2015

You would think something so compelling as the subject is, was treated with a little more than just a prolonged interview in a hotel room followed by some aftermath of the whistle blowing. It is edited in a such a bland way that itYou would think something so compelling as the subject is, was treated with a little more than just a prolonged interview in a hotel room followed by some aftermath of the whistle blowing. It is edited in a such a bland way that it completely takes away compelling nature of the story.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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manofthemoonFeb 15, 2015

By a seemingly conscious refusal to edit, the filmmakers take a major and important news story and commit the crime of making all seem so dull. At times genuinely boring thinking that it's being contemplative. A missed opportunity.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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Brent_MarchantNov 8, 2014

It's truly unfortunate that revelations as important as those being exposed here are told in such a clumsy, plodding manner. This ambling release is riddled with documentary footage desperately in need of editing, coupled with an incessantIt's truly unfortunate that revelations as important as those being exposed here are told in such a clumsy, plodding manner. This ambling release is riddled with documentary footage desperately in need of editing, coupled with an incessant stream of unexplained technospeak, causing much of what's important about this story -- the unfolding events and their wide-ranging implications -- to become lost in the muddle of extraneous flotsam and unending jargon. Judicious snipping and better elaboration of the material would have made the message of this picture immeasurably more accessible to a wider lay audience -- the very people who need to get it. Instead, we're left with a picture that mostly preaches to a choir of technically savvy insiders, most of whom are likely already familiar with the story and how it came to pass.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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epdFilmOct 27, 2014

Die in Berlin lebende Amerikanerin Laura Poitras hat Edward Snowden in den Tagen seiner Enthüllungen im Juni 2013 in Hongkong gefilmt

Wie oft ist die Rede von historischen Momenten, von Augenblicken, in denen Geschichte geschrieben wird.Die in Berlin lebende Amerikanerin Laura Poitras hat Edward Snowden in den Tagen seiner Enthüllungen im Juni 2013 in Hongkong gefilmt

Wie oft ist die Rede von historischen Momenten, von Augenblicken, in denen Geschichte geschrieben wird. Doch wer erlebt diese Momente schon aus nächster Nähe? Vor diesem Hintergrund wirkt Laura Poitras’ Dokumentation geradezu sensationell. Sie rekonstruiert nicht nur einen historischen Augenblick. Sie führt den Betrachter direkt ins Zentrum des Geschehens und lässt ihn an den epochalen Ereignissen zumindest bis zu einem gewissen Punkt teilhaben.

Im Juni 2013 haben sich Poitras, die zuvor schon mit Irak – Mein fremdes Land und Der Eid – Einblicke in das Al-Kaida-Netzwerk zwei vielbeachtete Dokumentationen über die Welt nach dem 11. September 2001 gedreht hat, und der Journalist Glenn Greenwald in Hongkong mit dem Whistleblower Edward Snowden getroffen. Der hatte zuvor unter dem Pseudonym »Citizenfour« mit der Filmemacherin Kontakt aufgenommen und ihr im Lauf einer verschlüsselten E-Mail-Korrespondenz Dokumente versprochen, die beweisen, dass die NSA jeden US-Bürger ausspäht. Während der acht Tage, an denen Snowden neben Poitras und Greenwald auch den britischen Journalisten Ewen MacAskill in seinem Hotelzimmer empfangen und die von ihm gesammelten Informationen erläutert hat, lief die Kamera immer wieder mit.

Snowdens Enthüllungen, die schließlich darin gipfeln, dass er selbst an die Öffentlichkeit geht und sich offenbart, erschüttern in diesen Tagen die Welt. Sie verändern die öffentliche Wahrnehmung. Ein bisher eher vages Gefühl von Paranoia schlägt in Gewissheit um. Die eigentliche Paranoia liegt auf staatlicher Seite und hat eine neue Realität geschaffen. Trotzdem wirkt Poitras’ Dokumentation, die ganz nah an den Ereignissen dran ist, auf eine irritierende Weise distanziert und kühl.

Vielleicht liegt es daran, dass Poitras mit aller Macht versucht, Snowden nicht zu heroisieren. Vielleicht aber auch daran, dass abgesehen von einigen Bildern, die einen stillen, sein eigenes Handeln immer wieder reflektierenden Snowden zeigen, kaum etwas wirklich neu ist. Die kurzen Auftritte von Julian Assange und Jacob Appelbaum haben fast etwas Pflichtschuldiges. Und selbst die Momente, in denen Poitras mit dem ehemaligen NSA-Entwickler William Binney einen zweiten Kritiker der allgegenwärtigen Überwachungsmaschinerie ins Feld führt, bleiben sehr sachlich.

Citizenfour provoziert keinen Aufstand. Man kann sich nicht einmal sicher sein, ob die Geschichte eines Einzelnen, der sich gegen die Macht stellt, tatsächlich so etwas wie Vorbildcharakter erhält. Obwohl Laura Poitras selbst immer wieder überwacht wurde und deswegen nach Berlin gezogen ist, werden der Schrecken und die Gefahren einer kafkaesk gewordenen Realität, in der die NSA und andere Geheimdienste praktisch die gesamte Menschheit unter Generalverdacht stellen, kaum greifbar. Den größten Eindruck hinterlassen letztlich kleine Details und Randbeobachtungen, etwa der Moment, in dem Edward Snowden bewusst wird, dass das Festnetztelefon in seinem Hotelzimmer durchaus auch benutzt werden könnte, um ihn abzuhören.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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TyranianDec 21, 2019

Vaguely interesting exposition of reporting techniques but the actual focus is not as revelatory as its made out to be.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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