History Film / Citizenfour

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

--> '''Snowden (message to Poitras)''': I will be working on a Rubix cubes so you can identify me. Approach me and ask if I know the hours of the restaurant. I'll respond by stating that I'm not sure, and suggest you try the lounge instead. I'll offer to show you where it is, and at that point we're good. You simply need to follow naturally.

* HeroicSacrifice: YMMV, depending on your outlook. To supporters, Snowden is a hero for exposing what he believes are incredible breaches of human rights. To opponents, he is a traitor for leaking classified data.

* EverythingIsOnline: Air-gapped computers (not connected to the Internet) are used by the trio to store information.

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

* Creator/CoryDoctorow: The camera holds on a book in Snowden's hotel room - Homeland, by Cory Doctorow, also about a tech-savvy hero who is fighting against invasion of privacy.

* SmartPeopleWearGlasses: Snowden gets rid of his glasses to make himself less recognizable when the documentary group needs to leave the hotel.

''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.

* ParanoiaFuel

--> '''Snowden (message to Poitras)''': I will be working on a Rubix cubes so you can identify me. Approach me and ask if I know the hours of the restaurant. I'll respond by stating that I'm not sure, and suggest you try the lounge instead. I'll offer to show you where it is, and at that point we're good. You simply need to follow naturally.
* ZeroApprovalGambit: Snowden knew that he would be branded a traitor, but was willing to accept the risk in order to bring to light the secrets that he felt robbed people of their freedom.

''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. 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.

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

--> '''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 priviledge compared to how we treat the rest of the world. This I can also prove."

--> '''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 onformation makes it home to the American public.

* HeroicSacrifice: YMMV, depending on your outlook. To supporters, Snowden is exposing what he believes are incredible breaches of human rights. To opponents, he is a traitor for leaking classified data.

* Self-SacrificeScheme:

* ProperlyParanoid: Snowden encrypts ''everything'', and only establishes regular contact with Poitras and Greenwald once they learn how to properly encrypt their messages. Considering the content of the data he is trying to share, this is shown to be utterly necessary.

** '''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 priviledge compared to how we treat the rest of the world. This I can also prove."

* TrustPassword: Snowden has Poitras meet him is a hotel restaurant...

* ParanoiaFuel:

* TitleDrop: Citizenfour is the username Edward Snowden uses to establish contact with Laura Poitras.

* ProperlyParanoid: Snowden encrypts ''everything'', and only establishes regular contact with Poitras and Greenwald once they learn how to properly encrypt their messages. Considering the content of the data he is trying to share, this is a

* ProperlyParanoid:

* SmartPeopleWearGlasses: Snowden gets rid of his glasses to make himself less recognizable when the documentary group needs to leave the hotel.

* BigBrotherIsWatching
* ProperlyParanoid
* ParanoiaFuel

''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.

* ParanoiaFuel

* JustifiedParanoia

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