The Style of Deep Focus in Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane

The Style of Deep Focus in Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane

Introduction

Citizen Kane is a film that is centered on a mystery. During his last moments, Charles Foster Kane, the millionaire newspaper tycoon utters the word “Rosebud”. This word spins many into a state of confusion, prompting a newspaperman to dig deeper into the meaning of the word. The film commences with details surrounding the tycoon’s life for the masses coupled with moments of flashbacks. Upon further investigation into his life, viewers are enlightened with dramatic moments of his life, how he rose to fame and subsequently falling off the top of the world. Throughout the movie, there is the aspect of deep focus, a technique in film making that enables subjects who are close and further away to remain in focus (Goodman). Again, this technique is achieved when a smaller aperture is used with a wide-angle lens.

Critical Response

The purpose of deep focus is to have everything in a frame, including the background in focus at the same time, as opposed to having characters in the foreground as the focus. While taking the deep focus scenes, cinematographers must blend lighting, composition, and camera lens to bring out the desired effect. Consequently, the cinematographer will showcase the overlapping actions in tandem with the physical environment where the act is filmed (Farmer). This physical environment is referred to as mise-en-scene. In this film, the use of deep focus is of great significance. One, it depicts Charles Kane’s loss of control. Secondly, it shows the space over which he lacks power. As a result, there is realism that is brought in a new dimension. This is because viewers will forget looking at the picture and feel the living and breathing presence of the characters.

With deep focus, the viewer’s mind is stimulated since he or she is subjected to a lot of information and action.  In Citizen Kane, the viewers have the opportunity to see diverse points of view presented in the narrative.

In the film, a glaring example of deep focus is presented when a flashback of Charles’ is played through the character known as Thatcher. The young Kane is playing out in a snowy environment with his rosebud sled. At the same time, the camera draws back in the cabin where a young Mr Thatcher is presented. From the scenes, it is seen as Charles plays outside through window (background) while his father argues for keeping the boy (middle ground). At the foreground is his mother, who agrees with Mr Thatcher. All the three images are played simultaneously, giving a striking detail of what is happening (Belk). The scene is an indication of how the young man’s future is being discussed. Again, it signifies the plot of the story by giving the audience a platform to see the whole picture. The experience is unique because viewers can see the conversation and the subject of the discussion simultaneously.

Similarly, the technique of deep focus is used when Leeland and Burnstien, two inquirer employees, are seen engaging about the chronicle during Kane’s business party. Again, viewers are capable of understanding the subject of the conversation, who is Kane as he dances around in the background (Belk). Additionally, the scene highlighting Susan’s attempted suicide bears the hallmarks of deep focus. In the scene, Susan lies in the foreground while Kane and the doctors are seen in the middle ground and background respectively.

Personal Response

The complexity and depth of a scene can be viewed through the lens of a deep focus. A perfect example is shown when shots of a luxurious home belonging to Kane is shot in Xanadu. Similarly, in the final scene of the movie, the image of mountains of crates and inanimate objects in piles indicate Kane’s overwhelming obsession with material possession (Filmic Elements). Essentially, the use of deep focus gives a unique look and feel and helps the film achieve some degree on prestige and cinematic beauty.

The concept of deep focus can be applied in daily life and can be used to enrich the personal experience. While engaging in conversations with people, one can implement the concept of deep focus. At one time, while reflecting on a jail experience with a friend, he narrated to me how life without freedom is painful and detrimental to any human. While narrating his jail experience, I imagine myself behind the jail walls and reflected on my present life. Consequently, I had the mental picture of myself in jail and another as a free man and nodded in agreement how it can be challenging to live in prison. A background picture of a jail and a foreground picture of myself as a free person told it all.

Similarly, the deep focus can help while making decisions. If one is at conflict between two choices, he can imagine settling on once choice and imagining the consequences or the benefits while comparing with another option.

In conclusion, the technique of deep focus is vital in film because it enables the viewers to synthesize information without thinking much. One can conclude and analyze a scene with much ease.