‘Citizenfour’: Edward Snowden documentary is riveting (review)

Director Laura Poitras' virtuosic documentary "Citizenfour" is a riveting, on-the-ground retelling of the story of NSA leaker Edward Snowden.

By now, most of us know the basics of the Snowden story. He was the high-level systems analyst for National Security Agency contractor Booz Allen Hamilton, who, in 2013, leaked classified documents to journalists in an effort to shine a light on the U.S. government's fast-growing surveillance apparatus.

The resulting controversy saw Snowden alternately characterized as a hero and a traitor. His legacy is complex, and until now it has been difficult to know what to think of him. But Poitras' film -- which gets its title from a codename Snowden used in his encrypted communications with the filmmaker -- goes a long way toward clearing it up.

That's because she gives us Snowden's side of the story, in full and for the first time. It's remarkable stuff, as Poitras' cameras spend eight days with Snowden. (For the record, he is currently living in Moscow as a guest of the Russian government.)

"Citizenfour" is very much a historical document, but one that plays like a Tom Clancy thriller.

Perhaps its real value, however, is in the way it helps viewers wrap their arms around what is a sprawling story. They may be terrified by what they learn about their government and its efforts to turn its surveillance apparatus on its own citizens.

That, Snowden explains, includes collection of cell phone data, phone conversations, GPS information from cellular devices -- and, yes, even listening through telephones that are on the hook.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Mike Scott, New Orleans Times Picayune/Nola.com

Citizenfour

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'Citizenfour': Edward Snowden documentary is riveting (review)