What is Citizen Kane about?
For a movie released in 1941, Citizen Kane feels strangely modern. It’s one of those films people constantly reference when discussing “the greatest movie of all time,” but most people never really explain why.
The film revolves around Charles Foster Kane, a powerful newspaper tycoon whose death sets the story in motion with his final word: “Rosebud.”
From there, the film shifts into an investigation. A reporter sets out to unravel the mystery of what Kane’s last word meant, interviewing various people who knew him throughout his life, each offering a different perspective of the man who had everything: Kane the ambitious young journalist, Kane the influential media baron, Kane the political candidate and Kane the complicated husband.
Each interview adds another piece to the puzzle, but none provides a complete picture of the man himself. When the audience learns the meaning of “Rosebud,” the picture becomes clearer: a portrait of a man who gained power and wealth but lost something far simpler along the way. “Rosebud” becomes the missing piece that helps explain everything else. But if you can already see most of the picture, what is the point of searching for one final piece?
Why is Citizen Kane still important?
For the most part, it’s a fairly straightforward story. The plot itself is not what makes the film stand out.
What makes Citizen Kane so important, even more than 80 years later, is how groundbreaking and influential it was. Many techniques used in film and cinematography today can be traced back to this film, which stood apart from others of its time.
The film begins with eerie visuals: various shots of the decrepit “Xanadu” mansion, each one moving closer to the building. The angles are shot in such a dark and haunting way I almost felt like I had turned on the wrong movie.
Kane’s life is the focal point of the story, but instead of showing it from beginning to end, director and star Orson Welles crafted the narrative through the memories of each former companion.
Most audiences today are used to nonlinear narratives and shifting perspectives, but in 1941 this storytelling structure was remarkably bold. Welles and cinematographer Gregg Toland used deep-focus cinematography that kept objects in the foreground and background sharp, dramatic lighting to emphasize shadow and contrast and low camera angles to make characters appear more imposing.
The visual sequences help reinforce the story’s themes. For years Kane amasses wealth and influence, but the film constantly frames him as isolated or alone, dwarfed by vast empty spaces.
Citizen Kane remains a pioneer in storytelling and technical innovation. What stands out most to me is the idea at the center of the story: even when we think we understand someone’s life, there may always be something missing.
