Citizen Kane (1941)

In reality, money can buy so many things. Elaborate statues, huge properties, acres of land, paintings, businesses, and expensive clothes. The possibilities are almost endless, as long as your bankroll is equally endless. Despite the possibilities of money, some of the best things known to humans are free, and Charlie Kane from Orsen Welles’ Citizen Kane (1941) endures the pain of lacking the things that really matter in life, not the material things, but the things money just cannot provide.
Charlie Kane seemed to have it all, especially in regards to money. The film starts at the end of Charlie Kane’s life, and when an interested reporter decides to look deeper into Kane’s life, not only does he discover a lot about the famous Charlie Kane that almost was, but he uncovers powerful symbolism, and a moving story of having everything but your youthfulness and the guidance and love of your parents. Orsen Welles, 25 years old at the time, not only plays the lead role of Charlie Kane, but is also the director of the film, which is impressive to say the least. Through his artful cinematography, and groundbreaking camera techniques, like the wide-angle (102), he paved the way for the development of cinematography and camerawork.
The word “rosebud” rings throughout the audiences ears repetitively throughout the film. In fact, like the audience is lead to believe, the reporter that is looking into Kane’s life is completely misdirected by Kane’s dying words. While he was busy looking for someone by the name of Rosebud, that he thinks Kane may have lost in the past the truth was right under his nose the whole time. Rosebud never was a person, but instead represented the only things Kane did not have, and unfortunately could never get, his youthfulness. Being stripped away from his parents at the start of the film was not what he wanted to do, and Welles’ does a great job of portraying this when a young Charlie Kane lashes out in refusal to leave his mother and father, he was ignored, and was thrust into his painful life.
The mentioned first scene shows Charlie outside playing in the snow as his mother and father discuss his departure. In this initial scene you get a very wide variation of depth in field (105) as he plays in the background just outside the window. As the scene fades, and you get the first glimpse of the immaculate Xanado, you also get a glimpse of who Charlie Kane actually is. The mansion is dark and gloomy but luxurious just like Kane, despite the luxurious and happy outside appearance, the mansion and Kane both are lacking something.
I enjoyed watching this film, and was most impressed with Orsen Welles’ abilities at such a young age. Not only was he 25, but he made a great film that is layered with richness. His ideas, his message, and his film making, acting, and editorial skills have played a major role in what cinema has become today.

Works Cited
Timothy Corrigan and Patricia White “The Film Experience: An Introduction". Boston, Ma. Bedford/St. Martins Publishing. 2009 (text)
Citizen Kane. Dir. Orsen Welles. Perfs. Orsen Welles, and Joseph Cotton. Mercury Productions. 1941. (film)
Lucian Marin. “Charlie Playing”. 2008. Wordpress.com Accessed May 7, 2010. http://rackingfocus.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/the-10-best-dvd-audio-commentaries/