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Orson Welles’s Citizen Kane (1941) and Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon (1950)

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Introduction:
At first glance, Citizen Kane and Rashomon seem structurally similar to each other and as well each explores the concept of truth. They both use multiple narratives to tell their stories; however, the idea of truth is handled differently in each.
Citizen Kane is a fictionalized documentary about the life of wealthy newspaperman Charles Kane. In Rashomon, while each narration widens understanding of the motivations of the narrators of the event, only one of the varying accounts is factual.
Theme:
The central theme of Citizen Kane is exploring a person’s life after his death. It talks about a person and what does audience thinks of that person. This film also analyzes the American Dream of Happiness.
The theme of Rashomon is Humanity and Reality of the world, that is, different kind of people living in the world. It also talks about self-image. We see or want to see things (or reality) in a way which suits us and which gives better image of ourselves. There is one more theme which comes in a subtle way, Metaphysical theme, above or beyond the physical world that is, God and Spiritual world.
Focus:
Citizen Kane focuses on the characterizing of a person. Through reporter Thompson, we are taken on a journey in which we meet a variety of people, all of whom have something to offer us about Kane’s life, though none can give his entire story. It throws question on us whether Kane is what others say or he has something else to tell about himself to us. Film also

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