Citizen Kane:The Film

🎬 Citizen Kane (1941): Genius, Innovation & Legacy

At just twenty-five years old, Orson Welles achieved what many still consider one of the greatest feats in cinema history. With little experience beyond theatre and radio, he wrote, directed, and starred in Citizen Kane — a film that redefined what cinema could do.

This short course explores why Citizen Kane remains so groundbreaking, and how its innovations still influence filmmakers today.

We’ll look at:

• The techniques Welles used — deep focus, dramatic lighting, and inventive camera angles

• The inspiration he drew from earlier directors, and how he made their ideas entirely his own

• The film’s satirical bite, its controversial subject matter, and the myths surrounding its production

• The remarkable performances of Welles’ Mercury Theatre troupe

• His later career and the creative risks that followed his early success

More than eighty years later, Citizen Kane still astonishes for its technical mastery, emotional depth, and fearless storytelling. Join us as we explore how a young visionary reshaped cinema — forever.