National Bird

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National Bird

Released Nov 11, 2016

1h 32m

Documentary

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Popcornmeter

100%

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22 Reviews

59%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

This documentary follows the dramatic journey of three whistleblowers who are determined to break the silence around one of the most controversial current affairs issues of our time: the secret U.S. drone war. At the center of the film are three U.S. military veterans. Plagued by guilt over participating in the killing of faceless people in foreign countries, they decide to speak out publicly, despite the possible consequences.

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Alexandra Heller-Nicholas

The Blue Lenses

It is a thoughtful, sensitive and probing look at the ethics of drone warfare, carefully balancing its focus on those who press the buttons with the very real horrors faced by those on the receiving end, particularly innocent civilians.

Aug 25, 2018

Full Review

J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

The three subjects' personal stories don't really add up to a coherent critique of drone warfare, but their various experiences allow Kennebeck to attack the subject from multiple angles.

Dec 15, 2016

Full Review

Kimber Myers

Los Angeles Times

"National Bird" is powerful cinematic journalism.

Nov 17, 2016

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Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

The US drone assassination program epitomizes the criminality of the Barack Obama administration and the American military-intelligence machinery.

Feb 22, 2021

Full Review

Erin Blackwell

Bay Area Reporter

Director Sonia Kennebeck has made a masterpiece.

Jun 9, 2020

Full Review

Nathanael Hood

Audiences Everywhere

A chilling, disturbing look into the realities of America's secret drone war in the Middle East.

Rated: A-

Dec 27, 2018

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charles h

This is not a documentary. This is an emotional and biased stream of consciousness by three low-level participants in drone programs. By his own admission, one of the “whistleblowers” was against the military drone program before joining the military, and only joined to end his homelessness. He went on to say that he felt it was wrong that the Department of justice “went after” people who disclosed classified and privileged information, when in fact, they are simply enforcing a contract that he voluntarily signed when he joined the military to secure the money and housing that he was unable to obtain on his own.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/16/25

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Audience Member

4/17/17 Amazon Video

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

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Audience Member

Slow moving documentary that doesn't inform a great deal, nothing having watched eye in the sky wouldn't have addressed.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

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Audience Member

poorly directed. Timeline contains to many errors

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Great documentation. Perfectly shot.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

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Sonia Kennebeck

Director

Jesselyn Radack

Actor

Wim Wenders

Executive Producer

Errol Morris

Executive Producer

Sonia Kennebeck

Producer

Ines Hofmann Kanna

Producer

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National Bird: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

This documentary follows the dramatic journey of three whistleblowers who are determined to break the silence around one of the most controversial current affairs issues of our time: the secret U.S. drone war. At the center of the film are three U.S. military veterans. Plagued by guilt over participating in the killing of faceless people in foreign countries, they decide to speak out publicly, despite the possible consequences.

Director: Sonia Kennebeck
Producer: Sonia Kennebeck, Ines Hofmann Kanna
Distributor: FilmRise
Production Co: Ten Forward Films
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 11, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 17, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $8.8K
Runtime: 1h 32m

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