MOVIE REVIEW
Citizenfour
Citizencritic
A documentary filmed at the time that
Edward Snowden was providing select jour-
nalists the documents and other material
regarding the government’s (the National
Security Administration) collection of
communication data on all Americans;
directed by Laura Poitras
by Doug Young
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RUN DECRYPTION:
Dear Critic Man:
I am providing you this encrypted assessment of the recent release of a film called
Citizenfour. As this message could be intercepted by other film columnists and critics, it’s important that
you decrypt this using a computer that is not connected to the Internet or any other technology
where others could download and access it. I feel it is imperative to let you know that while you watch
this documentary, you are also being watched. There are others in the theater who will make
note of your presence, especially if you happen to be sitting right in from of them and
blocking their view of the screen. You are also strongly advised not to use your credit card to
purchase a ticket to this movie as the filmmakers and others can get access to your records
and learn that you actually saw this film and all of the images and messages it divulges.
Please also do not use your phone to communicate what you saw or your views of this film as
that also could be intercepted. In fact, it might be preferable for you to say as little as possible
about this film so that you and those who may read your comments are not put on a movie
watch list or are subject to attacks on their own personal, private views of this cinematic
document. That’s because although it is interesting — in a voyeuristic way — to witness what
was happening and being discussed in real time when Snowden divulged his secrets, the film
essentially replicates all the facts and events as they transpired. This material is all in the
public record —on Youtube, websites, newspaper archives, blogs, tweets, etc. In other words,
there is nothing new here to disclose. All we get that is new is a series of graphics showing
email messages between Snowden and the journalists he selected to spill his secrets. There
isn’t even any countervailing data to rebut the release of these national secrets and why we
might be safer because of the surveillance by the NSA and others. Because this revelation is
a serious breach of cinematic security and will tax the patience of many filmgoers, it’s impor-
tant that this be communicated to the public. We would like you to provide that service so as
to make filmgoers secure in the knowledge that they are not missing anything by missing this
feature. Please erase this message once you have decrypted it.
Signed,
Citizencritic
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