Dish of the Day

Just some film musings of a more succinct, spontaneous and sometimes seditious nature:

Wednesday, July 12, 2023

Recently in a Writers related chat room (readers are welcome to join our Cinema related room here) a member asked about “… the artistic appeal of Citizen Kane, perhaps using Casablanca as a point of reference.”

This reminded me of a post made in our chat room where a member asked which film was better.

I offered my previously made comments to the member of the Writers Forum in the hope that he might get a better understanding as to each set of filmmakers’ varied approach to dramatic storytelling.

“I think Casablanca has, for many, a far more instantly recognisable appeal, including its characters some of whom possess highly emulative qualities. Its emotional pleas are up front and easy to assimilate. Citizen Kane has more complexity, flawed characters who are invested in the past, relationships that are changing and developing, mostly in a tragic way. Casablanca ends with heroic sacrifice and optimism. Kane is dire and ultimately about loss. Casablanca's highlights remind one of its pleasures, immediate and gratifying. Kane is a deeply contemplative journey, requiring a significant investment of thoughtful consideration on the viewer's part in order to uncover its enormous wealth of profound insight into human relations."

Citizen Kane (1941)

Casablanca (1942)

All responses are not only welcomed but encouraged in the comments section below.

Hope to see you tomorrow.

A.G.