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.
They are also very pale and seem cold as they seem to be made out of cold stone. This emphasizes the lifelessness of Xanadu and how there is no one there for her to talk and connect to except for Charles. These sets did a really good job of expressing the loneliness of Xanadu and of how living there can be more like imprisonment as opposed to luxury. The sets also create echos whenever the characters speak therefore making the sets seem gigantic and making the characters look insignificant. These details are what give this scene such a visual flare.

The next element of the scene that cements it a visual masterpiece is the camerawork. A good portion of the shots used are long shots. These really show off the sets and make the characters seem small. This adds to the isolation and Susan feels because the shot makes her take up only a small bit of the frame. The other kind of shot used is a close up to show us what kind of puzzle she is working on which adds so much to this part of the story. These shots emphasize structure over characters which is the whole point of the scene, to make the characters feel as though they are in a lavish and lovely but cold and unforgiving house. This is how Xanadu feels so empty, through the ingenious shots made by the director.

Finally, let's take a look at the actual puzzles.
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
Sequence