pursuit of life
——Analysis of the Implications of "Citizen Kane"
As one of the greatest films in the film industry, "Citizen Kane" brings to the audience not only the life story of newspaper tycoon Kane, but also director Orson Welles' skillful shooting techniques and the love that he wants to convey. Thinking.
At the beginning of the film, it does not take the usual path. It uses a close-up "No Entry" sign, and then uses a set of superimposed paintings to indicate that the transition from the outside to the inside, and the layers at the end of the film return to the "No Entry" sign. Echoes. This kind of entry gives people a real feeling, the feeling is slowly approaching, and the end returns to an objective attitude. Layers of latticework make the audience feel depressed, and the almost black castle also hints at the death and tragic life of the hero Kane.
The newspaper reporter was entrusted by the media to investigate the meaning of Kane's last words "Rosebud". The film is based on the information obtained from the reporter's investigation, but the reporter's image has always been blurred, either hidden in the dark or with his back to the camera. It can be seen that the image of the reporter is not important, he just represents all the spectators who have nothing to do with Kane's life, very objective but also very ridiculous, reflecting the indifference of human feelings and Kane's loneliness.
This film seems bland, but it is really superb shooting techniques and editing to achieve this effect. When telling the two most important stages of Kane: childhood and newspaper-running scenes, the mother's simple window-opening action is seamlessly connected by shooting the mother's back view and the continuous window-opening scene from the front. Since the audience feels that it is natural I felt my mother's love and reluctance for Kane, as well as the magnanimity of my heart. In the scene where Kane and Li Lan entered the newspaper together, Li Lan seemed to turn around the pole inadvertently, but it was actually to complete the off-axis shooting and realize the scene. Turning from the back to the front does not make the audience feel awkward.
Kane's tragedy was predictable since he was a child. He was sold to a stranger by his parents, and the experience of being abandoned caused his lack of love. After that, Kane made a decision, whether it was running a newspaper office, marrying his first wife, running for election, divorce, or his short-term marriage with his second wife. You can know that what he has been pursuing is a sense of security, but he died until his death. It didn't really come true, and he died alone again.
What puzzled the audience the most was his second wife, Susan. Kane used a "cross-section of America" to describe her mediocrity, but he built a theater for this woman, despite everyone's criticism, and did not hesitate to break up with his friends. So does he really love her? The film uses a lot of footage to describe her relationship with Kane. Susan put on a crown in the shadow behind the scenes and let everyone play with the conductor like a puppet. The lights above her head flashed rapidly and the curtain was opened. There were two similar scenes. Susan sang under the pale light with a sad expression. Obviously not singing well, Kane stood up and applauded for her. Here, a large-angle back shot is used, which is different from the traditional back shot, showing Kane's gloom and eccentricity. The lights hit him and his face was invisible in the darkness. Make the audience feel that the relationship is not normal.
Retracing the beginning of the relationship is when Susan said, "My mom wants me to be an opera singer, and I don't want to." This reminds Kane of his own childhood, and in his eyes, Susan It was already another him, in order to get the love that he had lost in his heart, he imposed the will to sing opera on Susan in the name of love, so when Susan twice asked him not to sing anymore, Kane was so angry. Here, Susan's angle is used to shoot Kane at a high angle again. Susan's figure is at a low position, completely suppressed by Kane in the shadow. The upside-down shot made Kane look like a tyrant, and he ordered Susan with a grim face, and one could see his selfishness and super possessive desire to control. This character flaw led to the tragedy of his life. As Susan left him, Kane watched her open door after door towards the end, and the light that represented his last grasp disappeared into the darkness.
It's not hard to explain why Kane was holding Susan's crystal ball before he died. To Kane, it didn't matter whose crystal ball belonged, but the scenery inside it reminded him of the best moments of his childhood. Sleds burned as scrap in the fire show 'rosebuds'. What he pursued in his life is only seen in destruction.
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