What is the main theme of Citizen Kane?
The Difficulty of Interpreting a Life The difficulty of interpreting a person’s life once that life has ended is the central theme of Citizen Kane.
What political ideology does Citizen Kane reflect?
In Kane’s political career he claims to represent ‘the people’ but is fundamentally opposed to trade union organisation. ironically, his political career is destroyed by exposure in the press of his affair with Susan Alexander.
Why was Citizen Kane so controversial?
It was said Hearst was particularly angry over the movie’s depiction of a character based on his companion, Marion Davies, a former showgirl whom he had helped become a popular Hollywood actress.
What does it mean to be called a Citizen Kane?
Being a citizen means that you’re part of a community, and that you have certain responsibilities toward that community. This is exactly what Kane think of himself early in the film, as he tries to use his power and fortune to be responsible to his community and to attack the corruption of rich people and politicians.
How does Citizen Kane represent the American dream?
How Did Citizen Kane Achieve The American Dream. The American Dream is that anyone can gain success through hard work, no matter your status, or if you’re poor, or your gender, or anything of your background. Citizen Kane shows the dark side by emphasizing the reality of who can achieve the American Dream.
What is deep focus in Citizen Kane?
Deep focus refers to having everything in the frame, even the background, in focus at the same time, as opposed to having only the people and things in the foreground in focus. The deep focus technique requires the cinematographer to combine lighting, composition, and type of camera lens to produce the desired effect.
Is Citizen Kane a critique of capitalism?
Kane is a man driven by a massive ego fed by his incredible wealth. Though Welles was not particularly political, the film is a harsh critique of capitalism. Kane’s business empire decays in parallel with his relationships to those around him.
What does Rosebud symbolize?
“Rosebud is the trade name of a cheap little sled on which Kane was playing on the day he was taken away from his home and his mother. In his subconscious it represented the simplicity, the comfort, above all the lack of responsibility in his home, and also it stood for his mother’s love, which Kane never lost.”
Why is Citizen Kane so influential?
Citizen Kane is one of the two films that revolutionized deep focus cinematography. You can see the boy playing outside even as we’re in a mid close up of the group talking inside. Try filming that yourself, and you’ll see how hard it is to do. Orson Welles and Gregg Toland used wide-angle lenses to devastating effect.
What is a Rosebud moment?
This brings me to my own “Rosebud” theory of the film, the moment that may or may not explain everything. It is in fact the moment that isn’t there, a shocking, ghostly absence that Welles allows you to grasp only after the movie is over: the death of his first wife and his son in an automobile accident.
What does a rosebud symbolize?
A red rosebud signifies beauty and purity. A thornless red rose means love at first sight. Yellow roses symbolize friendship and joy, and new beginnings. Orange roses symbolize fascination, desire, and sensuality.
Why is Citizen Kane iconic?
Of course, Citizen Kane is also known for many more things, such as its fantastic storytelling, but its story and plot structure, editing, and cinematography are what make it stand out to be considered the best movie of all time.