Citizen Kane

Orson Welles's 1941 film follows a reporter investigating what a dead newspaper owner's last word meant. Those who knew Kane are heard one by one. Each account draws a different Kane. The film uses techniques such as deep focus and low angles systematically; the narrative shows that a person cannot be reduced to a single explanation. Welles directed the film at twenty-five and played the lead. The real newspaper owner the character rests on tried to prevent its release. It won an Academy Award for its screenplay. Who it's for: those interested in the history of cinema and formally ambitious films. Who it's not for: viewers expecting a fast pace; the film keeps the rhythm of its own period.