Citizen Kane Tracey Gamble

At first I was not sure about the film, but after watching the film I had a better understanding of the different techniques we have been learning about, and the truth to this man’s story. Kane started life as a poor child with his parents; his mother wanted a better life for him and decided to send him away. In the beginning scenes it is easy to see what is being foreshadowed for him and what he’ll be getting in the end. For example in the scene when Mrs. Kane, (his mother) and Mr. Thatcher are deciding Kane’s future it is easy to see that the documents that she is about to sign are a huge factor and will be affecting his life because it is being lit up by a spot light. Charles you can see in the background in the window, and he’s dark compared to the snow, all of these affects are the usage of subsidiary contrasts.

Despite his rough beginnings it is easy to see throughout the film the emptiness that Kane had and was constantly searching for. Just as the reporter is looking to find what this mysterious “Rosebud” is. What I found interesting though, that Kane constantly chased things in his life and the harder he chased for these unreachable goals the darker his complexion would become.

All in all, Kane only wanted to be loved, because he had missed out on that as a child, so he constantly tried to fill that the best he could.

I loved the usage of the flashbacks throughout the film. I love whenever movies do that to tell a story. These weren’t the typically flashbacks though. Usually flashbacks are told from one particular individual in the story, but these flashbacks told a man’s story from the different angles of all the important people in this man’s life. It was a powerful and creative way to tell his story, because this gave the viewers an idea of fascination of the character. It made them want to hear more of his story from even more angles.

This story was told from the effects of shadows, lighting and different angles. Close ups for the pure emotion from the characters, crane angles to show a unique illusion, angles from the floor to make the ceiling look limitless and untouchable, shadows to make everything seem gloomier and sadder as Kane grew up and all alone. Every aspect gave meaning and told his story.