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.
Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane is widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. The film begins with the death of Charles Foster Kane (Welles), a wealthy media magnate who dies in his opulent mansion in Florida, uttering his last word, “Rosebud.” This final word sparks a media frenzy, and a reporter, Jerry Thompson, is assigned the task of uncovering its meaning.
As Thompson delves into Kane’s past, he interviews key people from Kane’s life, including his ex-wife, business manager, and best friend, all of whom provide flashbacks into different chapters of Kane’s complex and often tragic life. Through these flashbacks, we learn that Kane’s rise to power was marked by both ambition and personal failings. His early life was dominated by wealth, but also by emotional neglect, leading to his eventual estrangement from those he loved. His marriage deteriorated, his political career faltered, and his personal relationships became increasingly toxic.
Kane’s greatest failure lies in his inability to find fulfillment, despite all his wealth and power. The search for the meaning of “Rosebud” serves as a metaphor for the search for meaning in his life, which ultimately remains elusive.
Citizen Kane explores several significant themes, including the corrupting nature of power, the complexity of human relationships, and the inherent loneliness of fame. At its core, it is a study of the human condition through the lens of a man who had everything but failed to understand the importance of love and human connection.
The Illusion of the American Dream: Kane’s rise from humble beginnings to immense wealth reflects the American Dream. However, his fall demonstrates the emptiness that can accompany the pursuit of success without a deeper understanding of personal fulfillment or moral integrity. Despite his material wealth, Kane’s life was marked by loneliness and dissatisfaction.
The Power of the Media: Kane’s control over his newspaper empire highlights the significant influence that media moguls wield over public opinion and political outcomes. However, his manipulation of the media also reflects his personal flaws, as he uses it not for the public good, but to further his own ambitions and to create a public image of himself.
The Fragility of Memory: The fragmented storytelling structure of Citizen Kane mirrors the fragility and subjectivity of memory. The interviews with various people from Kane’s life reveal how they each remember him differently, contributing to a multifaceted portrait of a man whose life was both publicly grand and privately tragic.
After watching Citizen Kane, you may feel a mixture of awe, melancholy, and reflection. The film challenges viewers to think about the cost of ambition and the fleeting nature of life’s achievements. While the film’s structure may initially feel fragmented, its profound commentary on the emptiness of fame and wealth leaves a lasting impact. Kane’s life serves as a poignant reminder that without personal connections and fulfillment, even the greatest successes can feel hollow. You may leave the film contemplating the true meaning of happiness and the ways in which our desires shape our lives and legacies.
Ultimately, Citizen Kane is a film that will make you reflect deeply on your own life and relationships, questioning what truly matters in the pursuit of success and what we leave behind when we’re gone.
