Who is Citizen Four?

Citizen Four is a documentary on Edward Snowden and his work at NSA. Today, the world knows what the NSA was upto  but this documentary gives an up close and personal look at Edward Snowden, his decision on blowing the whistle and its repercussions.

The story begins with an encrypted email exchanges between Laura Poitras (Director of the documentary) and Mr Snowden. Cut two, to the Hotel Room in Hong Kong, where Snowden introduces himself, the work and about his employer. It astonishes you, when he explains his work at the NSA and how they monitor each and every conversation across digital and telecommuncations networks in the world. He explains with the help of technical documents on NSA works.  He further goes ahead and reveals the names of countries and other multinational corporations who work hand in hand in revealing this data to the NSA. This affiliation gives NSA unprecedented power under the pretext of safety of the American people.  In a scene, Snowden is briefing reporters and landline call comes in. He keeps the phone aside and says “Anyone can hot-wire the phone and listen to the conversation happening in this room sitting 4000 miles away”. It just sends chills of the power which NSA has over you.

The film plot thickens after the revelations and how they face trouble and that part nearly covers half of the film. Edward Snowden faces problems with authorities in Hong Kong and how he escapes to Russia. Glen Greenwald, who is a reporter from the Guardian reveals the danger he and his family faces from authorities in Brazil and United States.

This side of the Edward Snowden` story is  revealed for the first time to the audience and it is revealed in a raw manner. He is fearful, but determined and still wanting to go ahead and do the right thing. A scene where he gets a call and he understand that woman whom he loved for 10 years is in trouble because of this action. The emotions post that occurrence are completely raw.

Another interesting part of the documentary feature is when few experts explain what Snowden has done is that opened a box of worms and  how invasion of privacy is a huge crime committed by the NSA. Invasion of privacy is directly linked with the freedom of thinking without fear and suppressing it at its bud. 

Overall, this documentary is a raw and true face of the whistleblower Edward Snowden. 

PS : Citizen Four is the code name, which Snowden uses to communicate with Laura.