According to numerous periodicals, it is the best film of all time. Did I say the best of all time? No, I don't believe that is the case. To be honest, it isn't even my favorite Orson Welles film (Thirst for Evil :D ). Citizen Kane, on the other hand, is a fascinating film. Fascinating for a variety of reasons, from the abundance of symbols throughout the picture referring to Welles himself, to the technical and creative brilliance of the film itself.
Orson Welles was a great master of his craft. He directed and acted in Shakespeare's plays from an early age, and he started to play the piano at the age of three. He's also a fantastic performer, as evidenced by his BBC adaptation of War of the Worlds, which caused widespread terror in the streets, with many truly believing aliens were on their way. All of these characteristics will be apparent in his films, notably Citizen Kane.
Citizen Kane is a documentary about a journalist's investigation into the death of newspaper magnate Charles Foster Kane, or more specifically, his last words: Rosebud. We learn about Kane's personality, loves, and work as a result of his study into who, or what, Rosebud is.
What strikes me the most about this film, other than its non-linear editing, which was rare at the time, is Welles' mastery of the delicate art of camera handling. When I first saw it, I had no idea who Welles was, but he is a great master. Almost all of Citizen Kane is made up of sequence shots. And the camera flies, bringing us closer to the drama, and when it lands, we find a slew of symbolism that Welles is concerned about.
The scene of the young Charles Foster Kane's transfer (or whatever you want to call it) to a wealthy banker is an excellent example of this predicament. We have a constantly moving camera, whose movements are influenced by the persons that pique Welles' attention, in this case, Kane's mother, a stand-in for the director's mother, who died when he was ten years old. He portrays her as a powerful woman, refusing to let her husband speak. Furthermore, the mother and the banker are seated at the table when the camera lands, but the father is standing. They're also divided by the window frame, where we see a young Charles Kane playing. As you can see, Welles' directing work is phenomenal, and the same will be true throughout the film.
I'm spoiling to death right now, and the Rosebud enigma's resolution hinges on it. Stop here if you haven't seen the movie; it's a recommendation.
Throughout the movie, Rosebud has remained a mystery to me. But the more I look at it, the more I realize that the answer was evident all along. As a result, a reasonable issue arises: why did he say his sled's name before he died? I'm not claiming that what I'm about to offer is THE answer. There are numerous options. It all depends on how you view the film and, in particular, Kane's character. Despite his loudmouth persona, I perceive him as a loner. He has numerous issues with women, which are most likely the result of his childhood separation from his mother. As a result, I believe his sled is more than just a sled.
She is the representation of the childhood he never had and the love of a mother he never met. Kane may have been wealthy and accomplished, but he was a poor man who spent his days alone in the vastness of Xanadu (his palace), remembering one final time about the only time in his life when he was truly happy, away from the media and all civilization, but most importantly, with his parents. Welles' mother died when he was ten years old, and his father died when he was sixteen. This film is clearly devoted to both of them, as well as the director. Because I believe Kane's character is extremely similar to Orson Welles'.
Because I find this film so fascinating, I could debate and discuss it for hours. Even though I do not believe it is the greatest film of all time, I see why other people do because it is so rich in terms of history and personalities. But Citizen Kane is, above all, a personal film for Orson Welles, who was a wonderful director and a great entrée into the cinema industry.