Citizen Kane Mise En Scene Analysis

675 Words3 Pages
Orson Welles’s portrayal of William Randolph Hearst in the film Citizen Kane reveals the protagonist’s life and character through various film making techniques. Several dialects of cinematic language were used to translate the main character, Charles Foster Kane, to audiences. The meaning of his dying word “rosebud” is unattainable for the journalist pursuing Kane’s life story throughout the film. Following this theme, Kane also searched for something throughout his life – the happiness his sled rosebud brought him as a child. A simple time in anyone’s life that is often longed for. The film’s mise-en-scene comes together with Welles’s use of depth of field, lighting and parallel narratives to reflect Kane’s search for happiness. Depth of field was utilized in poignant moments throughout Kane’s life. The technique (also known as deep focus) was initially used during an important early scene at Kane boardinghouse. Welles utilized framing to enhance depth of field in this scene (Lewis 158). In doing so, a young Kane was seen through a window, blissfully unaware of how his life would be changed. This method was also used to reflect Kane’s sate…show more content…
Everything from paint on walls and columns to soft skin on actors during close-ups were done in light, bright tones. Other uses of lighting reflected darker moments in Kane’s life. In order to shed light on the true nature of his second wife’s singing career, she sat in bright lighting amongst a pile of bad reviews. All the while, she feverishly threatened to quit the singing business altogether. Her light turned to dark as Kane loomed over her, casting a dark shadow over her desires to quit. The mise-en-scene of the film was further enhanced with light and dark color choices. In the end, black smoke filled the air above Xanadu while rosebud burned in the fire. Further signifying the journalist was left in the dark about the
Show More
Related

  • Citizen Kane Mise En Scene

    996 Words  | 4 Pages

    How do mise en scene and sound create meaning in a scene from Citizen Kane (1941)? Citizen Kane 41:00- 45:30 The 1941 Citizen Kane, directed and produced by Orsen Welles, was a blockbuster. The key star was Orsen Welles as Charles Foster Kane. Along him starred Joseph Cotton, Dorothy Comingore, Ruth Warrick, Everett Sloane, Ray Collins, William Alland, George Coulouris, Agnes Moorehead, Paul Stewart and Erskine Sanford. The film focused on the life of newspaper tycoon, Charles Foster Kane and aspects

    Read More

  • Citizen Kane Vs Casablanca

    1493 Words  | 6 Pages

    movies of all-time. I believe no one would disagree the films were so prominent that they had shaped the cinema since 1940s. Both films are very engaging and I appreciate them a lot. Although I find Casablanca more enjoyable to watch, I still love Citizen Kane more and I think it is a greater film. Firstly, we can see a great transformation in film production in merely twenty years after The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari in nearly all aspect. I think that film was not merely an art form but had also become

    Read More

More about Citizen Kane Mise En Scene Analysis

Open Document