‘Citizenfour’ tells Snowden’s absorbing, disturbing story

Bill Goodykoontz, Gannett 11:03 p.m. CST November 13, 2014

Edward Snowden and his girlfriend, Lindsay Mills, in Citizenfour. (Photo: Special to the Register )

"Citizenfour" captures history in the making.

That may sound like an exaggeration, but it isn't. Director Laura Poitras takes her camera to Hong Kong, where she and investigative reporter Glenn Greenwald meet with a whistle-blower who will, even during the course of the making of the film, go from anonymous to world famous (or infamous, in some circles): Edward Snowden.

Snowden, the former National Security Association contractor, starts talking about the U.S. government's surveillance of its citizens and its repeated lies to cover it up, and never really stops.

The story Snowden tells is, of course, absorbing, disturbing and, yes, scary. Poitras' film, playing out as more and more is revealed, reported and published, comes off like a real-life spy thriller, only without a James Bond-type hero in the mix. Just a nerdy guy in glasses who at one point hides under a blanket while typing passwords.

Fitting, because what is especially fascinating is Snowden himself. Using the name Citizenfour, Snowden contacted Poitras and asked her to contact Greenwald. He had a lot of information to share.

Snowden has been called a traitor, but here he comes off as a decent man trying to do the right thing, if however awkwardly (or illegally). He's obviously smart and practically bursting at the seams to get his story out. At first he says he is unconcerned with the consequences, but as the furor grows over his revelations and his methods, that changes. He goes from confident to paranoid.

Or does he? Just because you're paranoid, so the bumper stickers say, doesn't mean they're not out to get you.

And make no mistake: They were out to get Snowden after the stories began appearing. So a glance at a telephone receiver in the Hong Kong hotel room where he begins his conversations with Poitras and Greenwald (and Guardian reporter Ewen MacAskill) quickly turns into Snowden explaining how new technology allows for outsiders to listen in through such a device, even when it's still on the hook at which point a light goes off above Snowden's head as he realizes that could be happening as he speaks.

Originally posted here:
'Citizenfour' tells Snowden's absorbing, disturbing story