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National Bird

Play trailer 1:52 Poster for National Bird Released Nov 11, 2016 1h 32m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 22 Reviews 60% 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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National Bird

Critics Reviews

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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 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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 Full Review Audience Member 4/17/17 Amazon Video Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Read all reviews
National Bird

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Cast & Crew

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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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Movie Info

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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