Synopsis
Filmmaker Laura Poitras documents her 2013 meetings with whistleblower Edward Snowden in Hong Kong, as he reveals the extent of the NSA’s global mass surveillance programs. Through candid conversations and real‑time decisions, the film captures the urgency, risk, and historical significance of their actions.
Highlights
Unprecedented access to Edward Snowden during the initial leak period
Real‑time unfolding of one of the century’s major political events
Intimate, tense atmosphere in hotel room discussions
Laura Poitras’s minimal, unobtrusive directing style enhances authenticity
Features prominent journalists and activists in digital privacy
Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature (2015)
Explores themes of government accountability, privacy, and courage
