‘Citizenfour’ Snowden Documentary Due August 25

 
photo for Citizenfour The critically acclaimed 2014 Academy Award-winner for Best Documentary is one of the most influential and timely documentary films in recent history. Just as the controversial U.S. Patriot Act was to expire on May 31, 2015 the U.S. Senate voted to pass the U.S. House version of the USA Freedom Act, the successor to the Patriot Act, which saw three of its major sections end, one of which was the mass surveillance of all Americans. Shortly thereafter, President Obama signed the bill into law. Edward Snowden and the events documented in “Citizenfour” were a powerful catalyst in calling attention to the unlawful surveillance of Americans by their government. “Citizenfour” is a real life international thriller that unfolds by the minute. With unprecedented access, this behind-the-scenes chronicle follows award winning director Laura Poitras — previously nominated for “My Country, My Country” and journalist Glenn Greenwald’s remarkable encounters with whistleblower Edward Snowden in a Hong Kong hotel room as he hands over classified documents that provide evidence of mass indiscriminate and illegal invasions of privacy by the National Security Agency (NSA). The film not only shows the dangers of governmental surveillance, but also makes audiences feel them. After seeing the film, viewers will never think the same way about their phone, email, credit cards, web browser or digital footprint again. Vitals: Director: Laura Poitras. 2014, CC, MPAA rating: R, 114 min., Documentary, Box office gross: $2.799 million, Radius/Anchor Bay. Extras: Bonus scenes; New York Times talk with Laura Poitras, Glenn Greenwald, Edward Snowden and David Carr; Film Society of Lincoln Center Q&A with Laura Poitras; “The Program” New York Times Op-Doc by Laura Poitras.

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