The life of a lover of the arts and film cannot be guaranteed complete unless he has seen Orson Welles' masterpiece Citizen Kane. Citizen Kane has been considered as the best film for five consecutive times (1962-2002) based on Sight & Sound's poll of critics until 2012 wherein it was replaced by Hitchcock's Vertigo.
Citizen Kane tells the story of a man named Charles Foster Kane whose who rose from rugs to riches and how his life was turned upside down for his search for power. The story is told in a flashback where a reporter is trying to figure out what the last words of Charles Kane, "Rosebud", meant.
What I truly love about Citizen Kane is the characterization of Charles Foster Kane. There is emotional attachment to the viewer and Kane. You would feel and sympathize as you literally watch him grow. This emotional attachment and the mystery of 'Rosebud' would not only keep the viewers guessing and expectant but also caring of the situation that will happen soon to the protagonist.
There is are also great morals to the movie. Simple morals such as 'money can't buy us happiness' is explored and as the story goes deeper, so do the morals as we see them branch out to different lessons and aspects of life. We see how man can be manipulative and crude for the sake of power, we see man's transformation from being the mighty hero to the pitiful villain. And only in our darkest and final moments that we look back and ask ourselves if it was a life well-lived.
For these reasons, I believe that Citizen Kane is indeed a work of art that left a huge impact in the movie industry. Personally, what I find really remarkable about it is its storytelling. But aside from that, its use of cinematography, special effects, and music served as a great inspiration for other classic films released during its time.
Despite the technological advancements in the field of film today, Citizen Kane has left a legacy that will never be forgotten for many more years to come.
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