In this article, we will delve into the fascinating world of The Internet's Own Boy, exploring its origins, impact and relevance in today's society. From its first manifestations to its influence in different areas, The Internet's Own Boy has left an indelible mark on history, awakening interest and generating passionate debates. Through a detailed and exhaustive analysis, we will take a look at the many facets of The Internet's Own Boy, examining its evolution over time and its role in shaping the contemporary world. Join us on this journey of discovery and understanding, as we unravel the mysteries and wonders of The Internet's Own Boy.
After its premiere at Sundance, Participant Media and FilmBuff acquired distribution rights of the film. The film was released to theatres and VOD on June 27, 2014, in United States. It was followed by a broadcast television premiere on Participant's network Pivot in late 2014.
The film's UK premiere took place at Sheffield Doc/Fest in June 2014 and won the Sheffield Youth Jury Award that year. In August 2014, the film was screened at the Barbican Centre in London as part of Wikimania 2014. The BBC also aired the film in January 2015 as part of its Storyville documentary brand. It was also released on the Internet with a Creative CommonsBY-NC-SA 4.0 license.
Synopsis
The film depicts the life of American computer programmer, writer, political organizer, and Internet activist Aaron Swartz. Footage of Swartz as a child is featured at the start and end of the film. The film is narrated by figures from Swartz's life, including his mother, brothers, and girlfriends.
Reception
The film received positive response from critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a 93% rating based on reviews from 57 critics, with an average score of 7.3/10.
Geoffrey Berkshire in his review for Variety described it as "A spellbinding portrait of the Internet whiz kid's life and political convictions, which were cut short by his suicide in early 2013." John DeFore of The Hollywood Reporter gave the film a positive review and said that it was an "Excellent newbie-friendly account of a story that rocked the Web's cognoscenti." Katherine Kilkenny from Indiewire said that "The Internet's Own Boy aspires to provoke Capitol Hill by educating its viewers to inspire questions. Questions for those revered leaders in Silicon Valley – and for a government whose restrictions of the internet have been applied with a sledgehammer, as one source of the film says, instead of a scalpel." In her review for The Daily Telegraph, Amber Wilkinson gave the film three stars out of five and said that "Knappenberger's film is a heavy watch, mostly using talking heads and footage of Swartz before his death to tell a story which comes to question the state of civil liberties in the US."
In December 2014 the film was listed among 15 films on a "short list" to advance to a round of voting for Documentary Feature in the 87th Academy Awards, however it did not advance to a nomination. The film later won the award for Best Documentary Screenplay from the Writers Guild of America.
See also
Citizenfour – 2014 documentary film about government surveillance documents disclosed by Edward Snowden
Good Copy Bad Copy – 2007 documentary film about copyright and culture in the context of the Internet