'Citizen Kane' - a great film about journalism.

The film that consistently tops polls for the greatest films of all time is one in which editors-in-chief and journalists alike can find reflections of themselves.

Citizen KaneReleased in 1941, it topped the American Film Institute's list of the 100 Greatest Films in 1998 and 2007. It was also included in the National Film Archive's list of protected films in 1989. The film also topped numerous other polls.Editorial Jaquar, FIAF, French Critics, Romanian Critics, Time Out, Village Voice… Special,Sight & Sound,The most prestigious of all film awards (in the words of the late critic Roger Ebert), also honoredCitizen KaneIt was named "Best Film of All Time" for five consecutive years from 1962 to 2002.

"Citizen Kane" is a black-and-white film that premiered in 1941.

Citizen KaneThe day began with news that shocked the entire United States: Charles Foster Kane had died. The front pages of all newspapers that day reported the news and highlighted key events in Kane's life: how he built a powerful media empire comprising 37 newspapers, two news organizations, and a radio station; how he ran for and nearly became President of the United States; and how he spent his final years in solitude at his Xanadu estate. Before his death, Kane uttered only one word, which remains a mystery to this day: "Rosebud."The film recounts the glories and hardships in the life of Charles Foster Kane, an American media mogul. The plot, events, and scandals surrounding the film can be considered excellent examples of journalism.

Although it's a biographical film, it summarizes the entire life of the main character right from the beginning, seemingly leaving nothing new about Kane for the audience to discover. The film only exists because of the curiosity and self-satisfaction of a newspaper. The editor-in-chief believes that "it's not enough to just say what a person did; we must find out who that person really was." He assigns a reporter named Thompson to investigate the meaning of Kane's last words. The film is told through the flashbacks of all those who knew Kane and whom Thompson could contact for interviews.

Through various accounts, Kane's portrait gradually emerged. First and foremost, he was an open-minded, progressive journalist who dared to take risks in his profession. He was willing to sleep in the newsroom to cover stories. Many times, Kane stayed up all night editing articles to meet deadlines for the next day's issue. He recruited talented individuals, seeking out the best reporters to work for him. Kane established his "Manifesto of Journalistic Principles": "I will give the people of this city a newspaper that will tell the truth. I will also give them a fighter for their rights as citizens and as human beings."

He was willing to publish incisive investigative articles, even if it affected the interests of the company in which he was the largest shareholder. He dared to publish articles criticizing the US President, even though his first wife was the President's niece.

"Citizen Kane" is a movie that anyone working in media or journalism should watch.

Watching the film, viewers not only admire Kane but also love the tenacious reporter Thompson. Tasked by the news agency to uncover the secrets surrounding "Rosebud," Thompson spares no effort, ready to get to the bottom of the truth. He studies the memoirs of Kane's godfather and interviews everyone who knows the subject. Even when refused a meeting, Thompson doesn't give up and finds ways to complete the assignment given by the news agency.When a cautious reporter wrote a critical review criticizing his wife's opera singing, Kane not only didn't get angry but also chuckled in agreement. He even finished the article himself, following the reporter's lead. Perhaps it was his excessive passion for journalism that led to the failure of both of Kane's marriages. He had little time to care for his family. He came home late, spent too much time at the newsroom, and was busier than a sailor.

Of course, Citizen Kane is not just a film about journalism. It's also a story about the ups and downs of a person's life, about a longing to love someone but being unable to. However, this is a film where every editor-in-chief and every reporter struggling in the profession will find a reflection of themselves.

The film is based on the life of media mogul William Randolph Hearst. For this reason, film history must record one of the most unequal battles between media and art. Hearst resorted to dirty tricks, using all the power of his media empire to sink the film.

Hearst openly threatened and intimidated the film industry, and specifically RKO, in every way possible. The studio owners were forced to hold an emergency meeting and offered $800,000 to buy out and destroy all copies of Citizen Kane. RKO refused the offer, whereupon Hearst banned all newspapers, radio stations, and television channels belonging to the Hearst group from commenting on or even mentioning the name Citizen Kane. Many theaters, fearing the immense power of the Hearst empire, withdrew the film en masse. This was a fatal blow, leading to the film's box office failure. Furthermore, Hearst influenced the Oscar jury that year. Despite receiving nine nominations, Citizen Kane ultimately went home with only one award, for Best Screenplay.

The story surrounding Citizen Kane is a prime example of the immense power of the media. In that unequal battle, Hearst and his empire temporarily emerged victorious. But "what belongs to Caesar must be given to Caesar," glory must be returned to the rightful owner.

After many years of being forgotten, the film began to be shown again on American television in the mid-1950s. Critics received Citizen Kane enthusiastically. It is one of the rare films to receive a 100% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a reputable website that compiles reviews from critics.

Leonard, a writer for Movie Guide, described it as a film that “breaks all the rules and creates new ones… A masterpiece in every sense.” Renowned critic Roger Ebert called Citizen Kane “the greatest film ever.”

Citizen Kane is celebrated for its narrative technique that reverses the chronological order, following the character's flashbacks – something almost unprecedented. The film also features groundbreaking cinematography, such as the use of low-angle shots, deep-focus shots, and backgrounds that are as sharp as the foreground. Many sequences use the same setting and characters, only changing their costumes and dialogue. In this way, changes over many years are smoothly condensed into a few minutes.

Citizen Kane was also highly praised for its use of music. Filmmaker Francois Truffaut even commented: “Before that, no one in Hollywood knew how to use music effectively in a film… Citizen Kane was the first, in fact the only, film to use such sound techniques.”

The film consistently topped film polls.

Speaking of the success ofCitizen KaneIt's impossible not to mention the "mastermind" Orson Welles. He was the producer, director, co-writer of the screenplay, and lead actor of the film. All those titles for a 25-year-old newcomer to filmmaking is an unbelievable feat. Welles received the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award in 1975. The British Film Institute also voted him the greatest director of all time.Film critic VGI Bijovitch once used glowing words to praise the film's script: "It astonishes with its uninhibited, courageous look at life, with its cold and bitter narrative voice, with its rejection of illusions, with its unwavering readiness to face the worst."

The reporter Thompson in the film once said, "No words can explain the life of an entire person." Similarly, a short article cannot fully convey the immense scale of a film.

Citizen Kane is a cinematic masterpiece that has had a profound influence on subsequent films. It's truly a must-see for anyone passionate about the seventh art, as well as anyone who has, is, or intends to dedicate their life to journalism.

According to VnExpress.net