This is an important scene to the narrative of the movie Citizen Kane because it tells us why Mr. Kane is the way he is as an adult. This scene shows us how he was taken away from his parents at a young age. Orsen Wells does and excellent job of creating multiple emotions in just one camera shot. For example, as Kane's mother is speaking with Mr. Thatcher about taking Kane, she is also looking out of the window watching Kane play in the snow as an innocent little boy. We can tell that although she is sending him away, she is doing it out of love. She may not want to send him but she needs to. She feels this is the best way for him to have a successful life. This scene also shows Kane playing with his sled "Rosebud" which is the only physical thing he kept with him after being taken away from his parents. He kept the sled up until the day he died.
Absolutely. And remember, he is able to do those complex shots because of his use of "depth of field" which allows for action on several planes (i.e.: in the foreground and back ground)
This scene sets the stage for the rest of the movie. It's the first time we see Rosebud, the time when Kane is taken away, and really it's the last time his innocence is really genuine. This scene explains why Kane longs for his lost childhood and subsequently his lost love of his family in a sense, it becomes the platform for his entire cravings for real love that he pursues into adulthood but never actually obtains.
You are correct. It is also the scene that the snow globe seems to contain -- a brittle memory that is both trapped and hidden, deep in the elder Kane's memories.
This is an important scene to the narrative of the movie Citizen Kane because it tells us why Mr. Kane is the way he is as an adult. This scene shows us how he was taken away from his parents at a young age. Orsen Wells does and excellent job of creating multiple emotions in just one camera shot. For example, as Kane's mother is speaking with Mr. Thatcher about taking Kane, she is also looking out of the window watching Kane play in the snow as an innocent little boy. We can tell that although she is sending him away, she is doing it out of love. She may not want to send him but she needs to. She feels this is the best way for him to have a successful life. This scene also shows Kane playing with his sled "Rosebud" which is the only physical thing he kept with him after being taken away from his parents. He kept the sled up until the day he died.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. And remember, he is able to do those complex shots because of his use of "depth of field" which allows for action on several planes (i.e.: in the foreground and back ground)
DeleteThis scene sets the stage for the rest of the movie. It's the first time we see Rosebud, the time when Kane is taken away, and really it's the last time his innocence is really genuine. This scene explains why Kane longs for his lost childhood and subsequently his lost love of his family in a sense, it becomes the platform for his entire cravings for real love that he pursues into adulthood but never actually obtains.
ReplyDeleteYou are correct. It is also the scene that the snow globe seems to contain -- a brittle memory that is both trapped and hidden, deep in the elder Kane's memories.
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