Citizen Kane Visual Analysis
The Movie Citizen Kane, considered by many to be one of the greatest movies of all time, is one of those movies that tells its story visually just as much as it tells us verbally. One such sequence is the Jigsaw puzzle sequence which shows us the dwindling marriage of Charles Foster Kane and Susan Alexander Kane as we see her building jigsaw puzzles that once was a past time. Now it is the only thing that keeps her going as she lives in a palace that feels more like a prison. This sequence is probably the best in the film in terms of visual analysis.
The first thing that shows the emotions of the scene is the production design. The sets for this scene are very large and massive in order to make Susan feel so reclusive and alone. …show more content…
If you notice each of the puzzles have a hidden meaning that represents Susan's emotional state. The first puzzle is a desert which tells us that she feels deserted and is in solitude. The second is of a snowy forest which represents how cold and frigid her relationship is with Charles. The third shows us a small simple house which directly contrasts with her current state of residence. This could also be interpreted as what she wants, a simple life but now she is thrust into a life of luxury which she was not ready for nor wanted. The fourth is a forest with a river which could mean that she plans to leave Charles in order to pursue a life of peace. The fifth is another snowy forest which tells us that her marriage to Charles has officially iced over and that he is dead to her. The sixth and final one is of a ship which is foreshadowing of her leaving Charles and escaping from her wretched life with him. This clever use of a common object tells us so much about the characters without even saying a word. That is why these puzzles add so much to the story.
In conclusion, this scene has some of the best qualities of this movie. Citizen Kane has changed so much in cinema with its brilliant story, complex characters, and excellent twists and turns. If you want to look at the best part of it then look no further than the 3 minutes and 15 seconds of the Puzzle
The first thing that shows the emotions of the scene is the production design. The sets for this scene are very large and massive in order to make Susan feel so reclusive and alone. …show more content…
If you notice each of the puzzles have a hidden meaning that represents Susan's emotional state. The first puzzle is a desert which tells us that she feels deserted and is in solitude. The second is of a snowy forest which represents how cold and frigid her relationship is with Charles. The third shows us a small simple house which directly contrasts with her current state of residence. This could also be interpreted as what she wants, a simple life but now she is thrust into a life of luxury which she was not ready for nor wanted. The fourth is a forest with a river which could mean that she plans to leave Charles in order to pursue a life of peace. The fifth is another snowy forest which tells us that her marriage to Charles has officially iced over and that he is dead to her. The sixth and final one is of a ship which is foreshadowing of her leaving Charles and escaping from her wretched life with him. This clever use of a common object tells us so much about the characters without even saying a word. That is why these puzzles add so much to the story.
In conclusion, this scene has some of the best qualities of this movie. Citizen Kane has changed so much in cinema with its brilliant story, complex characters, and excellent twists and turns. If you want to look at the best part of it then look no further than the 3 minutes and 15 seconds of the Puzzle