Although this documentary is less than 10 minutes, each minute is incredibly powerful. I like how Johnson took something ordinary and turned it into something extraordinary.
The cinematic choice to keep the blimp in the frame at almost all times is incredibly powerful and symbolic in this documentary. It symbolizes that the US is “always watching” the people of Kabul. It also symbolizes that Kirsten Johnson is always watching the blimp. I think its funny that Johnson was told not to film the blimp, but did so anyways because if the blimp could impose on the people of Kabul, Johnson could impose on the blimp.
The blimp is clearly visible yet its capacities are hidden. It has been there since 2009, but its capabilities are classified. It seems worth pointing out that there is a device that was put somewhere to watch people in their everyday lives, yet they do not even know its intentions. This raises yet another ethical dilemma in filmmaking, which is that between the subject and filmmaker. Though a surveillance blimp is much different from an actual cameraperson like Kirsten Johnson, there are similar ethical dilemmas involved.
There is a similar blimp in Maryland to detect long range missile attacks. When she shows the blimp in Maryland, she shoots scenes with an American flag and red, white, and blue streamers with the blimp in the frame to emphasize the disconnect between America representing freedom and America as controlling in terms of surveillance.
I agree that her choice to keep the blimp in almost every shot is incredibly significant in the film and contributes greatly to the overall message.