Citizenfour (2014) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

An encrypted approach leads journalists to document Snowden's surveillance disclosures, his flight from prosecution, and the continuing risks of reporting.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

An Encrypted Approach

Poitras receives an encrypted message from Citizen Four, who offers inside information about surveillance. The contact leads her and fellow journalists to arrange a meeting in Hong Kong.

Key Events

• Encrypted Message Arrives — Poitras receives an encrypted message from a stranger calling himself Citizen Four. Characters: Self, Self Location: United States
• Surveillance Information Offered — The sender offers inside information about NSA and intelligence-agency wiretapping. Characters: Self, Self Location: Encrypted correspondence
• Journalists Travel to Hong Kong — Poitras, Greenwald, and MacAskill travel to meet the source. Characters: Self, Self, Self, Self Location: Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Interviews

Poitras, Greenwald, and MacAskill meet the source in his hotel room and learn that he is Snowden. After four days of interviews, Snowden asks that his identity be made public.

Key Events

• Journalists Travel to Hong Kong — Poitras, Greenwald, and MacAskill travel to meet the source. Characters: Self, Self, Self, Self Location: Hong Kong
• First Hotel Meeting — The journalists meet the source in his hotel room, where he maintains his privacy. Characters: Self, Self, Self, Self Location: Hotel room, Hong Kong
• Source Reveals His Identity — The source identifies himself to the journalists as Edward Snowden. Characters: Self, Self, Self, Self Location: Hotel room, Hong Kong
• Four Days of Interviews — The journalists conduct four days of interviews with Snowden. Characters: Self, Self, Self, Self Location: Hotel room, Hong Kong
• Identity Made Public — At Snowden's request, his identity is made public. Characters: Self, Self, Self, Self Location: Hong Kong

Exposure and Flight

Media attention and the risk of prosecution shape Snowden's efforts to avoid detection and apply for refugee status. Poitras leaves Hong Kong after believing she is being followed, while the US government seeks Snowden's extradition.

Key Events

• Identity Made Public — At Snowden's request, his identity is made public. Characters: Self, Self, Self, Self Location: Hong Kong
• Move to Poitras's Room — As media seek Snowden at the Mira Hotel, he moves into Poitras's room to avoid calls to his room. Characters: Self, Self Location: Mira Hotel, Hong Kong
• Refugee Status Application — Facing possible extradition and prosecution, Snowden schedules a meeting with the UN refugee agency and applies for refugee status. Characters: Self Location: Hong Kong
• Poitras Leaves Hong Kong — Believing she is being followed, Poitras leaves Hong Kong for Berlin. Characters: Self Location: Hong Kong to Berlin
• Extradition Request — The US government asks Hong Kong to extradite Snowden. Characters: Self Location: Hong Kong

Stranded in Moscow

Snowden departs Hong Kong, but the cancellation of his passport leaves him stranded at Sheremetyevo airport. After 40 days, Russia grants him temporary asylum.

Key Events

• Passport Cancelled in Transit — Snowden leaves Hong Kong, but his US passport is cancelled before he can connect to Havana. Characters: Self Location: Sheremetyevo International Airport, Moscow
• Stranded at Sheremetyevo — Snowden remains stranded at the airport for 40 days. Characters: Self Location: Sheremetyevo International Airport, Moscow
• Temporary Asylum Granted — The Russian government grants Snowden temporary asylum for one year. Characters: Self Location: Russia

Reporting and Return

Greenwald speaks publicly about foreign surveillance, and the film includes Binney's comments and testimony on NSA programs. The documentary closes with Greenwald, Snowden, and Poitras meeting in Russia and destroying written notes.

Key Events

• Greenwald Speaks Publicly — Greenwald speaks publicly about US use of NSA programs for foreign surveillance. Characters: Self Location: Rio de Janeiro
• Binney Discusses Surveillance — Binney speaks about NSA programs in a film vignette. Characters: Self Location: Not specified
• German Parliament Testimony — Binney testifies about NSA spying in Germany. Characters: Self Location: German Parliament
• Cautious Meeting in Russia — Greenwald, Snowden, and Poitras meet and discuss emerging intelligence details by writing rather than speaking. Characters: Self, Self, Self Location: Russia
• Notes Destroyed — Greenwald tears the documents into scraps and slowly removes them from the table. Characters: Self, Self, Self Location: Russia

Story Breakdown

• Encrypted Contact — Poitras receives a secure message from a source offering information about surveillance.
  • Citizen Four Message — A stranger contacts Poitras through encrypted email.
  • Surveillance Offer — The source offers inside information about NSA and intelligence-agency wiretapping.
• Hong Kong Meeting — Poitras and the journalists travel to meet the source in person.
  • Journalists Arrive — Poitras, Greenwald, and MacAskill travel to Hong Kong.
  • Hotel Room Interviews — The journalists meet the source in his hotel room and interview him.
• Identity Disclosure — The source reveals himself and eventually agrees to public identification.
  • Snowden Identified — The source tells the journalists that he is Edward Snowden.
  • Public Revelation — After four days of interviews, Snowden requests that his identity be made public.
• Hong Kong Pressure — Public attention and legal danger force changes in Snowden's immediate plans.
  • Hotel Relocation — Snowden moves into Poitras's room to avoid calls to his own room.
  • Refugee Application — He schedules a meeting with the UN refugee agency and applies for refugee status.
• Flight and Exile — The extradition request and cancelled passport leave Snowden unable to continue his planned journey.
  • Extradition Request — The US government asks Hong Kong to extradite Snowden.
  • Airport Stranding — Passport cancellation strands Snowden at Sheremetyevo for 40 days.
• Public Surveillance Debate — The film extends its account through public reporting and Binney's testimony.
  • Greenwald Speaks — Greenwald discusses US use of NSA programs for foreign surveillance.
  • Binney Testifies — Binney speaks about NSA programs and testifies about spying in Germany.
• Cautious Russian Meeting — The film ends with the participants handling sensitive information carefully.
  • Written Discussion — Greenwald and Snowden discuss emerging intelligence details by writing rather than speaking.
  • Notes Destroyed — Greenwald tears the documents into scraps and removes them from the table.

Directed by

Laura Poitras

Key Cast

• Edward Snowden — Self
• Glenn Greenwald — Self
• Laura Poitras — Self
• William Binney — Self
• Barack Obama — Self