I have enjoyed Citizen Kane very much as a film so far, but unfortunately, as Mr. Bennett stated, I believe that I have missed many of the symbols and filming styles because it is my first timing watching it. However, as I have been watching the film, I have tried to take notes on camera angles or dialogue that I have heard, which I wondered if it was significant or not. I personally assume that it is all important because Mr. Bennett said so, that in a good film, all dialogue is important. So, in the first hour + of the film, I have thought about:
Pages 83-142 in the book would tell the story - is there any deeper meaning behind those pages chosen and what are they. I thought it may have reflected the years of his life, but upon research, Kane was born in 1863 and died in 1941. I do believe that those pages and the fact that he had to be out of that room by 4:30 do have significant meaning but I don't believe it has been revealed yet, unless I have missed it.
When the banker is speaking with Kane's parents about the deal, while the 8-year old Kane is yelling outside because he is enjoying playing, his father goes and shuts the window on him and the sounds of Kane are no longer heard. My belief is that Welles does this to show the end of Kane's innocence because it is the last time we ever hear Kane playing, or playing as a child. It could also have symbolized the ending of his childhood or the shutting out of enjoyment from the rest of his life. It may be the last moment of Kane's life where he is truly happy before he is shut out of just being able to enjoy the simple pleasures in life. Also, it could show the end of the relationship between his true parents and himself and the father just shuts the noise out, without even a thought.
Also, I forget the exact situation, unfortunately between Kane is standing in a doorway, I believe in his newspaper office and speaking to either Bernstein or Thatcher (I can't remember exactly) and the two men are arguing and they continue to get interrupted by people walking between them and stopping them from continuing their conversation because all of the people that get in their way. I believe that this is symbolic of the divide between the two characters and possibly the fact that Kane will allow many people to get in between himself and his true friends and it will make him end up alone. It may show that Kane will abandon those who were dear to him because of passing fancies.
My final thought is more of a question rather than a commentary. At the very beginning of the film as Kane is dying we hear him say "Rosebud" as he dies and drops the snowglobe to the ground and it breaks. However, by showing the camera as they did, with a closeup on Kane, himself, it appears as if he is alone in the room as he died. Therefore, I wonder how people know what his final words were if he were alone in the room as he died and no one heard him speak. The only person I saw enter the room was his housekeeper, a couple of minutes after his death where she folds his arm and covers his body. Therefore, my question is two-fold. First, if no one was in the room, how do we know that his final words were Rosebud. And secondly, if he was not alone, who informed the press of his final words and who heard him utter the words, where were they in comparsion to Kane, and why, if they were there, did Welles, decide not to show them?
More thoughts will come on this film as it continues to pique my interest and give me an enjoyable viewing experience.
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This is all great stuff. Your first comment about the pages in the book may be a bit of a stretch, but you never know with this film. Frankly, I never thought about that. The second part is right on target. In fact, his father closes the window on Kane immediately after Thatcher informs him that he will be getting 50 grand a year for life. The last question about Rosebud has always troubled me, as well, thought I never articulated it. Later in the film, though, his butler informs Thompson that he was present when the last words were spoken.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work. Oh, did you see Lenin make a cameo appearance today?