Citizen Kane

Main Plot

"Citizen Kane," directed by Orson Welles, is a groundbreaking film that explores the complexities of ambition, power, and human frailty. The story unfolds through a series of flashbacks following the death of Charles Foster Kane, a wealthy newspaper magnate. Kane's life is pieced together through the perspectives of those who knew him, as a reporter seeks to decipher the meaning behind Kane's enigmatic final word, "Rosebud." The film navigates through Kane's rise to fame and wealth, his influence on the media landscape, and his eventual political aspirations. As Kane amasses power, his personal relationships deteriorate, leaving him isolated in his opulent estate, Xanadu. The narrative structure of the film and its innovative use of cinematography, lighting, and music have made "Citizen Kane" a seminal work in the history of cinema, often celebrated for its creative storytelling techniques and its critique of the American dream. Through Kane's life story, the film explores themes of loneliness, the corrupting power of wealth, and the elusive nature of truth.

Characters

• Orson Welles plays Charles Foster Kane, a wealthy newspaper magnate whose life story unfolds through flashbacks after his death, revealing the complexities of his character and ambitions.
• Joseph Cotten plays Jedediah Leland, Kane's best friend and critic, who provides insights into Kane's character and rise to power through his testimonial to a reporter.
• Dorothy Comingore plays Susan Alexander Kane, the second wife of Charles Foster Kane. Her relationship and opera career are central to Kane's emotional and social decline.

Ending Explained

At the end of "Citizen Kane," a film directed by Orson Welles, the mystery of Charles Foster Kane's last word, "Rosebud," is the central enigma. Throughout the movie, a reporter named Thompson interviews those close to Kane trying to decipher the meaning behind his final utterance. Despite his efforts, Thompson concludes that "Rosebud" will remain an elusive piece of Kane's complex identity, suggesting that a single word cannot encapsulate an entire life. The film concludes with the staff at Xanadu, Kane's vast but desolate estate, sorting through the immense collection of artifacts that Kane accumulated over his lifetime. These items, once treasured by Kane, are now considered mere junk. As the workers dispose of these belongings, the camera focuses on a sled from Kane's childhood, which is thrown into a furnace and burned. As it is consumed by flames, the camera reveals the sled's name: "Rosebud." This revelation connects "Rosebud" to a time when Kane was happy and innocent, before the complexities of his life unfolded. The sled symbolizes Kane's lost childhood and the simpler times before his ambitions and eventual loneliness consumed him.