Citizen Kane

Directed by Orson Welles,Citizen Kane is seen by many as a masterpiece. In many ways, the movie defies genre. It most closely resembles a biopic, but of a fictional character. While it is generally accepted that Charles Foster Kane is a satire of William Randolph Hearst the film itself is clearly presented as fiction. The beauty of the film lies both in its visual representation and its narrative structure. Orson Welles, along with cinematographer Gregg Toland, stretched many of the prevalent rules in Hollywood by using extreme low-angles, deep-focus photography and other cinematic elements for creative purposes. In some cases, they cut trenches into the floors to get the extreme low angles. The aesthetic quality of the film makes it a treat to watch, almost making the viewer forget about the mystery behind the term "Rosebud."

As Thompson, the newspaper reporter, travels around trying to find out the meaning "Rosebud," the last word of famous newspaper tycoon Charles Foster Kane, he gets several detailed accounts of various parts of Kane's life, but never finds out the meaning behind the term. This matters little to the viewer, in part because the story is so masterfully shown, and in part because the meaning is revealed in the end (I won't give it away if you still haven't seen this 63 year old film). The overlapping narration of various people in Kane's life, along with the newsreel at the beginning of the film, serve to show him from many points of view, trying to get at the depths of his personality. The fact that the film holds the viewer's attention for 2 hours even though Kane's entire life story is revealed in the first 15 minutes via the newsreel is a testament to the powerful visual style of Welles and Toland.

This film raises questions about the impossibility of ever really knowing anyone through outward appearances. Although Thompson asks many people close to Kane about what made him tick, none had a real answer, and each had his or her own spin on his life. Interestingly, the only parts of the film that are not mediated by a newsreel or interview are the beginning, where we hear him say "rosebud," and the end, where its meaning is revealed. This privelege gives the viewer some insight into Kane that the previous narrators didn't have, but it also underscores the futility of trying to round up someone's life by answering one question, relying on one word, or looking from one angle.