History Film / Citizenfour

* DroneOfDread / HellIsThatNoise: An eerie, static-y noise appears whenever the US government is doing something sneaky like surrounding Edward Snowden's house (and his unsuspecting girlfriend) with "maintenance vans" shortly after Snowden's leaks hit the news or detaining one of the reporters' partners for nine hours at an airport under "national security".

* IntrepidReporter: Glenn Greenwald.

''Citizenfour'' is a 2014 documentary about the actions of Edward Snowden and the NSA spying scandal. The film focuses on how Snowden began correspondence with director/documentarian Laura Poitras and journalist Glenn Greenwald in order to leak information about illegal surveillance which Snowden obtained while working as a contractor for the NSA. The documentary takes place mostly in the Hong Kong hotel where the three meet over eight days to discuss the data and how best to reveal it to the world, and the repercussions of doing so.

!!Provides examples of

''Citizenfour'' is a 2014 documentary about the actions of Edward Snowden and the NSA spying scandal. The film focuses on how Snowden began correspondence with director/documentarian Laura Poitras and journalist Glenn Greenwald in order to leak information about illegal surveillance which Snowden obtained while working as a contractor for the NSA. The documentary takes place mostly in the Hong Kong hotel where the three meet over eight days to discuss the data and how best to reveal it to the world, and the repercussions of doing so. It is the winner of the 2015 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

--> '''Nowden (message to Poitras)''': In the end, if you publish the source material, it is likely I will be immediately implicated. This must not deter you from releasing the information I will provide. Thank you, and be careful. Citizenfour.

* HollywoodHacking: Averted since, as a private contractor, Snowden was given access to the data. When he realized the scope of the machine that was collecting the data, he simply downloaded it.

* IncrediblyObviousBug: [[HiddenInPlainSight So obvious it's not obvious]], Snowden reveals that modern office telephones are capable of being remotely turned into a "hot mic", allowing a person to eavesdrop on the room even when the receiver is hung up.

* BigBrotherIsWatching: The data leaked by Snowden reveals just how easily and regularly the government can collect information on anyone in the world.

''Citizenfour'' is a 2014 documentary about the actions of Edward Snowden and the NSA spying scandal. The film focuses on how Snowden began correspondence with director/documentarian Laura Poitras and journalist Glenn Greenwald in order to leak information about illegal surveillance which Snowden obtained while working as a contractor for the NSA. The documentary takes place mostly in the Hong Kong hotel where the three meet over eight days to discuss the data and how best to reveal it to the world, and the repercussions of doing so.

* SinisterSurveillance: The Documentary.

* SmartPeopleWearGlasses: Snowden gets rid of his glasses to make himself less recognizable when he needs to leave the hotel when it is crawling with reporters.

* Creator/CoryDoctorow: The camera holds on a book in Snowden's hotel room - ''Homeland'' - also about a computer hacker who is fighting against invasion of privacy.

* HeroicSacrifice: YMMV, depending on your outlook. To supporters, Snowden is a hero for exposing what he believes are incredible breaches of human rights, even if it meant becoming a wanted man. To opponents, he is a traitor for leaking classified data and deserves punishment.

''Citizenfour'' won the 2015 [[UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}} Academy Award]] for Best Documentary Feature.

* ParanoiaFuel: As more and more of the data is explained by Snowden for the benefit of Poitras and Greenwald, it starts to sink in just how vulnerable we are.
--> '''Snowden (message to Poitras)''' "The NSA has never in its history collected more than it does now. I know the location of most domestic interception points and that the largest telecommunication companies in the US are betraying the trust of their customers, which I can prove. We are building the greatest weapon for oppression in the history of man.... Billions of US communications are being intercepted. In gathering evidence of wrongdoing I focused on the wronging of the American people, but believe me when I say that the surveillance we live under is the highest privilege compared to how we treat the rest of the world. This I can also prove."

* RubiksCubeInternationalGeniusSymbol: Maybe invoking the trope, or just because they aren't that common, but Snowden uses a Rubik's Cube to identify himself to Poitras, whom he has never met in person.

* Creator/CoryDoctorow: The camera holds on a book in Snowden's hotel room - ''Homeland'', also about a computer hacker who is fighting against invasion of privacy.

* ProperlyParanoid: Snowden encrypts ''everything'', and only establishes regular contact with Poitras anonymously, and then only after he teaches her how to properly encrypt her messages. Considering the content of the data he is trying to share, this is shown to be utterly necessary.

''Citizenfour'' is a 2014 documentary about the actions of Edward Snowden and the NSA spying scandal. The film focuses on how Snowden began correspondence with director/documentarian Laura Poitras and journalist Glenn Greenwald in order to leak information Snowden obtained while working as a contractor for the NSA. The documentary takes place mostly in the Hong Kong hotel where the three meet over eight days to discuss the data and how best to reveal it to the world, and the repercussions of doing so.

''Citizenfour'' won the 2015 [[UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}]] for Best Documentary Feature.

''Citizenfour'' won the 2015 [[UsefulNotes/Academy Award]] for Best Documentary Feature.

''Citizenfour'' won the 2015 Academy Award for Best Documentary.

--> '''Snowden (message to Poitras)''': I appreciate your concern for my safety, but I already know how this will end for me, and I accept the risks. If I have luck and you are careful, you will have everything you need. I ask only that you [BringNewsBack ensure this information makes it home to the American public.]

--> '''Snowden (message to Poitras)''': I appreciate your concern for my safety, but I already know how this will end for me, and I accept the risks. If I have luck and you are careful, you will have everything you need. I ask only that you ensure this information makes it home to the American public.