A 20 year old film student on "Citizen Kane"

Rating: 10/10 (11 July 2006)

In terms of the narrative as well as the plot arrangement, the genre of this film could be well considered as "mystery". This is in reference to the "hunt" provided by the utterance of the word "Rosebud" by the lead character Charles Foster Kane that gushed forth the investigation of a group of journalists regarding the mystery behind this last word of his. This film is very rich in symbolisms. Some of which are the following: 1)The sled which had the word "Rosebud" on it was the symbol of the great fortune that entered his life which he, on the other hand, greatly despised in the end. It also stood for the naivety he lost as a child and the joy that only his real family could've brought him. 2)The crystal ball that had a winter scene inside it which he dropped upon losing his very last breath, on the other hand, was the symbol of the poor yet happy life he was born into. 3)In the scene where he was told that he had lost his position, he was seen descending the spiral staircase. It was a great shot from the top of the stairs that symbolized his life or rather, his career spiraling downward. 4)In the scene where he was finally turning over his empire, he stood by a very tall window. It was shot from a distance accentuating how small Kane is compared to the grand height of the window. I thought it symbolized 2 things: The tall window was his empire getting bigger than ever and him shrinking into this very small individual losing grip of the things he once had. 5)The film opened with a very dark and gloomy Xanadu which after seeing the whole film made me realize that it must have been a symbol of Kane's life at that point- nearing its end and extracted of the beautiful things it once had. 6)Lastly, one of the last few scenes of the film was a gliding shot from the top of his things (mostly in boxes) lined outside Xanadu ready for disposal. At first glance, I thought it was a view of NYC from the top. When I realized it was actually a shot of Kane's things ready for disposal, I thought that maybe it was another symbolism offered by this great film. Perhaps of the great city he thrived and succeeded in now already distant from his reach if not LOST from him already. Orson Welles being the producer, lead actor and director of this film proved to many that such great efforts are duly given great responses. This film, as what many of us might know already, is considered as one of the greatest if not THE greatest film ever made by seasoned movie critics and ordinary moviegoers alike. I, however, have not yet seen that many movies yet for me to make the same conclusion although I did witness for myself the greatness that this film is. The film enthusiast that I am, I am waiting to see more great films like "Lawrence of Arabia", "Gone with the Wind", "Out of Africa", "A Streetcar named Desire" and many more of these "great films" tagged as such by movie critics all over the globe. Only after seeing these other films could I believe it right to finally make the conclusion regarding which is the best and perhaps, which also is the worst (that is, if there actually is one). As of the moment, I could only speak well of "Citizen Kane" which I was thankful to have finally seen. Aside from the great mystery and many symbolisms it offers, I second the motion that this film did break new grounds for storytelling in film as it started with the ending, told the story through a series of flashbacks and ended with where it started focusing, in particular, on the "NO TRESPASSING" sign on Xanadu's tall gate. I would say that this film requires deep thinking on and perhaps, appreciation of the subtexts and rich symbolisms it has for its viewers. Another merit that should be rightly given to this film are for its achievements in special visual effects- the "mirror scene" after Susan Alexander left Kane where the latter stood parallel to a life-sized mirror showcasing a fantastic shot of "several Kanes", the ridiculously huge fireplace in the similarly ridiculously huge mansion and the many other eye-pleasuring scenes showcased through exceptional camera shots and angles. All in all, "Citizen Kane" is a truly astounding achievement in film-making and a thought-provoking masterpiece in the field of storytelling. It's no wonder why it is considered as one of the best films ever made, if not THE best, in the history of worldwide cinema.