Citizen Kane

Ashley Kraus
Philosophy of Film
Professor Langguth
May 8, 2014

Citizen Kane

The film “Citizen Kane” is known as one the greatest movie ever made and it lived up to that when I watched it.  Citizen Kane is a drama film filled with a whole lot of mystery.  The mystery begins in the beginning scene with Kane’s final word of “Rosebud” and continues throughout the entire film when trying to discover the truth behind this word.  It is interesting that so many people felt the strong connection and felt the suspense trying to discover the meaning of “Rosebud”.

            The director, Orson Welles, uses many techniques that are done so precise.  One technique is his framing skills using indexing.  When talking to each person about what they think “Rosebud” is, it focuses and zooms in on the life that was that persons and Kane’s.  It zooms into the important aspects of the life that they shared and see the connections together.  It brings a sense of emotion to one’s perspective seeing how Kane lived his life and who he acquainted himself with others.

Another technique that Welles used was his use of perspective.  When interviewing the people in Kane’s past, it brought to life that individuals own view of Kane. By using different perspectives, it brings light to the audience’s eyes, both positive and negative. This allows the audience to feel the sense of abandonment that Kane received from his childhood by trying to find love with everyone he met.  This is very clear in Susan Alexander perspective of Kane when she states that she does not need him to love her but that he needs her to love him.  This shows the sense of love that he was searching for and lost in his past. 

One other technique used very is his sense of erotetic narration and closure in the film.  Without this technique the audience would most likely not pick up what the word “Rosebud” means.  The very last scene when the sled he received as kid was burning in the fire sums up the question of what “Rosebud” means.  To me this shows that the term “Rosebud” is equivalent to Kane’s lost childhood.  He never had the chance to experience what kids do and lost the sense of love in his life. 

All in all, this film is drama that many would like and enjoy.  It may not seem like it at first but give it time and you will be hooked.  I see now why this is called one of the greatest films made.  With all of the different techniques used it helps the story line to be well developed. However I will state that with the final scene of the film, I think no closure would have been established. It brings the story to a complete circle, leaving the audience with no questions.  It is so set, that the audience leaves with specific set emotions and decisions.  This is what makes a film better in my eyes, because it leaves the audience wanting more throughout, even when there is nothing else to show.  I highly recommend this film to everyone.  I think those that are not even fans of black and white films can enjoy this film.