The film Citizen Kane employs a variety of film techniques that intend on developing

setting, atmosphere, plot, and character.

The film begins with a sign in focus that say, No Trespassing. The warning carries a
negative connotation, suggesting what is to be shown is in private and restricted location,
perhaps never meant to be seen in the first place. The camera begins to tilt upward, with the
fence being in focus while the moonlit sky background is out of focus. Non-diegetic music is
being played, one with a dark and morbid tone. The shot of the fence fades, showing other
barriers, such as that of a grate or a metal gate. Again, this suggests the location is private and
restricted. The fading of the barriers suggests they are related to one another and movement is
being made as one fades into the other, building anticipation as the primary focus of the scene
comes into view the castle.
The castle is presented in a dark setting, with the only lighting from the moon, which
creates a silhouette-effect on the castle its only prominent feature being the well-lit window. It
is framed with a long shot, showing how far it is from the viewer, but still having some ominous
atmosphere surrounding it even from a distance. The gate is also shown, with the letter K
being the most prominent feature among its intricate patterns. These details are intended to be the
focus in the low-key lighting and are intended to be connected to one another. The shot of the
castle fades, with more establishing shots of the castle grounds being depicted in similar low-key
lighting and are cluttered with detail, suggesting they as individual shots have no
significant importance or focus, other than to emulate movement towards the castle.
Eventually, the frame settles on the well-lit window, with the non-diegetic music building
in volume. This builds tension and anticipation of what is to come, until the lights go out all of a

sudden and the sound cuts to silence, providing a brief pause. A new light appears, providing
some atmosphere of tranquility as no tension is being built with the music. The shot fades into a
snow globe, with a man whispering the words Rosebud quickly after the depiction of the snow
globe, suggesting that these two elements the snow globe and the words are somehow
connected to one another, and perhaps have significance in the plot of the movie. As the man
dies, the snow globe crashes to the floor, perhaps symbolic of his death. The night nurse arrives
to put his to rest, showing the silhouette of his body of last time in low-key lighting, ending the
scene.