Citizen 4 – Documentary

Buckle up for *Citizenfour* (2014), a pulse-pounding documentary by Laura Poitras that drops you into the heart of one of the biggest whistleblower scandals in history. This Oscar-winning, real-life thriller follows Edward Snowden, a 29-year-old NSA contractor, as he risks everything to expose the U.S. government’s massive, illegal surveillance programs. If you’ve ever wondered how far governments go to spy on their own citizens, this film will grip you from start to finish and leave you rethinking your digital footprint.

In January 2013, Poitras, already digging into post-9/11 surveillance, receives cryptic encrypted emails from “Citizenfour.” This mysterious figure claims to have explosive evidence of the NSA’s global data-grabbing schemes. Five months later, Poitras and journalist Glenn Greenwald fly to Hong Kong, cameras rolling, to meet the man behind the alias: Edward Snowden. Over eight tense days in a hotel room, Snowden hands over classified documents revealing how the NSA, with help from telecom giants, collects your emails, calls, and internet activity—without warrants or oversight. It’s a chilling peek into what Snowden calls “the greatest weapon for oppression in history.”

With heart-stopping moments—like a fire alarm sparking paranoia—and raw footage of Snowden grappling with his decision, *Citizenfour* feels like a spy thriller, but it’s all too real. Poitras’ unflinching lens captures Snowden’s courage and the media storm that erupts as his leaks hit The Guardian and The Washington Post. You’ll be glued to the screen, watching history unfold while questioning who’s watching you. Stream it on Prime Video or MUBI, and brace yourself for a film that’s as unsettling as it is essential—a wake-up call about privacy, power, and the fight for truth.