Citizen Kane
dir. Orson Welles · 1941
The pursuit of success and wealth often leads to a profound sense of emptiness and unfulfilled longing.
Feature
Identity Crisis
Mood
Melancholic / Contemplative
Look
deep focus cinematography with stark contrasts and shadow play
Structure
non-linear, framed narrative with flashbacks
Plot
Newspaper magnate Charles Foster Kane is taken from his mother as a boy and made the ward of a rich industrialist. As a result, every well-meaning, tyrannical or self-destructive move he makes for the rest of his life appears in some way to be a reaction to that deeply wounding event.
Why watch
"Citizen Kane" is a masterclass in storytelling that delves into the complexities of identity and the corrosive nature of wealth. With its groundbreaking visual techniques and profound character study, it's a poignant exploration of ambition and solitude that resonates powerfully across generations.
Cultural context
post-war American optimismrise of media influenceexploration of the American Dreamcritique of wealth and power dynamics
If you liked this
The Great Gatsby (1974)All About Eve (1950)The Social Network (2010)The Master (2012)