Citizen Kane

Gregory Lopez
FILM 2600: Film History
Dr. Cathleen Londino
Fall 2011
“Citizen Kane”
1. In regards to Citizen Kane, Its multifaceted and gloomy theme of an emotionally-futile man is told from numerous, unpredictable perspectives and points-of-view, which were metaphorically interconnected by the jigsaw puzzle in the film. Several different characters, which included the associates and friends of the departed, provided an occasionally inconsistent and perplexing representation. The film tells the heart-rending epic story of a 'rags-to-riches' child who inherited a fortune, was taken from his down-to-earth environment, as well as his father and mother. He was raised by a banker whom he disliked, and became a resplendently affluent, arrogant, and vigorous newspaperman. He made his reputation as the liberal, perfectionistic campaigner of the underprivileged, and set his pompous mind on a political career, until those political dreams were shattered after the leak of a reckless 'love-nest' affair with a singer. Kane's life was corrupted and eventually self-destructed by greed to fulfill the American dream of success, fame, wealth, power and immortality. After two failed marriages and a conversion into a morose, outlandish, and tyrannical monster, his final days were spent alone, miserable and unhappy before his death in a withdrawn retreat of his own making - a gloomy palace filled with countless possessions to recompense for his life's overall emptiness.
2. http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewArticle.asp?id=20042
3. This article relates to the screening because it gives an overall impression and run-down about the film. For instance, it states that "Citizen Kane," released in 1941, was ahead of its time in cinematography. Many long cuts, showing action in real time, fill the film and the few short cuts are taken mainly to emphasize dialogue. This story of newspaper tycoon Charles Foster Kane is based loosely on the life of William Randolph Hearst, who fought the release of this film into theaters. The article goes into detail about how this film, shot in black and white, uses the space of the audience's screen to show a well-focused insight in the field of vision. Lighting is preserved through low key lights and sharp angles of hard light, with characters all remaining in focus. Characters in the beginning of the film are shot almost in silhouette lighting, mainly focusing on voice and dialogue rather than the actual visual images. Symbolically, the public is in the dark about who Kane was and became. The older Kane gets, the darker shots become, reflecting pragmatism of cinema in the beginning of the film, but changing to extravagant and excessive with the passage of time. The perspective of the author in this article about the film gives the reader a clear insight about what the film is intended to say and why the message is important through symbolic dialogue and a captivating storyline.
4. A film known to many as Citizen Kane, and known by few, lives up to the hype even if it's not the so-called best film ever made. I honestly didn’t think the film wasn’t going to be as good as it was. I loved the message behind the movie, characters and the sequence of events .Everything fell into place in the movie, which kept me at the edge of my seat. I would definitely see this movie again due to the fact that it is without a doubt, one of the best movies of all time.