Citizen Kane

Orson Welles is a legend in itself. He is a dedicated director, actor, and artist. An artist in the sense he directed, produced, and was the star in the film ‘Citizen Kane.' The film won an award for best screenplay that was co-written by Welles. ‘Citizen Kane' brings into light many social problems between countries, relationships, and also between competing newspaper companies. The film was a big controversy when it was first released on a delay (because of personal conditions with W.R. Hearst). It brings into light how a newspaper should react and also brings the corruption of politics. War was breaking out in Europe and throughout the entire film Kane states there will be no war. He ignores the fact people are being killed, tortured, and rounded up like livestock because of Adolf Hitler. The film was released on May 1, 1941 a few days before Joseph Stalin becomes premier of Russia, a day before Nazis took over Netherlands, and eight days before the English army breaks the German codes.

The film introduces to us in the beginning a single word, ‘Rosebud.' The audience having just tuned into the movie has no clue what the word means. In the opening music score there are many parallels that can be seen. This includes images on top of images, images digressing with other images, and images that clash with other images. Throughout the film you have these parallels not only with shots, but with people and real life figures. Private lives are not private at all. If you are a substantial figure in the world then people have clear access to you and your life. This goes along with the life of Kane. From his childhood he did great things and his life was publicized by his guardian. It is very important in the scheme of things because after Kane's second wife divorced him he became a recluse and people had that curiosity about what he was doing in Xanadu.