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I have chosen to analyse the opening sequence of Citizen Kane. ... The film revolves around a journalist, (Thompson) trying to determine the significance of the word “rosebud”, which was the last word of public figure (Charles Foster Kane) before his death. The film consists of a series of visual flashbacks as Thompson interviews the closest people in Kane’s life about their current opinions of Kane’s conflicting personality, in search of an unfound answer. ... I will focus on the sequence’s importance, that through the mise-en-scene, Xanadu parallels Kane; the snow dome represents Kane’s childhood and the significance of the words ‘rosebud’. The initial viewing for an individual conveys that there is a lack of information about Kane in this opening sequence- only his hands and lips are shown, creating a detachment between Kane and the viewer. ... ” (The making of Citizen Kane, p.98) The importance of Xanadu paralleling Kane is that it gives the viewer insight into the meaning of ‘rosebud’ without us even knowing until the closure of the film. ... 175) The opening of the sequence is a blank screen with solemn, daunting music playing suggesting Kane’s “internal-hidden-emotions” (Understanding movies, p. ... Gainnetti agrees that Xanadu parallels Kane as he states, “The castle is a bizarre mixture of styles and periods- just as Kane’s personality is an inconsistent blend of psychological contradiction” (understanding movies, p. ...
The mansion is a drawing matte, real light was used behind it to insinuate the illuminated window of Kane’s room, but the foreground was real. ... This conveys one strict meaning- that Kane is alone.
The snow dome is a symbolic object that represents Kane’s childhood. The snow dome smashing indicates how Kane’s childhood was shattered, that what he valued in life was stolen from him and replaced by an empty unfulfilling shallow world.
Approximate Word count = 1468
Approximate Pages = 5.9
(250 words per page double spaced)
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