The first shot we are shown in the opening scene of Citizen Kane is the close up of a sign reading "no trespassing". Immediately Orson Wells has created an enigma code through this one sign as the audience begins to wonder why someone would feel the need to put such a sign up. Also the use of font on the sign emphasises this desire to keep people out through capital letters and a very bold font. This again causes us to wonder why Kane wants to keep people out, and out of what?
The camera then begins to slowly move upward using an upward panning shot or climbing shot over the fence with no trespassing sign on it. This makes the audience feel as if they are climbing the fence and beginning to trespass on the property, creating a sense of uneasiness and tension. This uneasiness is further accentuated by the music in the background. The music gives off an eerie, spooky tone and is parallel as it adds to the uneasiness of the scene. It is also non diegetic sound as the sound is not directly coming from any actions taking place on screen. The slow nature in which the camera moves up the fence connotes us the audience, the trespassers, are feeling apprehensive and anxious as we enter the property.
Eventually we see an establishing shot of the building behind the fence. This shot is effective as it allows the audience to finally see the property they are trespassing, and having the shot from behind the fence again reinforces this idea of being scared to enter. The structure of the building again adds to the unease and tension as it's size and positioning on a hill makes it seem intimidating and the mist around it adds to it's creepy presence.
As the scene changes, the establishing shot of the building remains. In the next scene we see two monkeys on the fence These monkeys seem to be looking around, as if they are suspicious and uneasy, again adding to the overall tone of the film so far. Having the building crossed over from the scene before into the new scene adds to the idea that the audience is so anxious as they begin to come closer to the building, and is again shown in the next scene as the building is reflected in a puddle. There seems to be an overwhelming presence to the building that is effectively portrayed through these shots. Such focus on the mansion creates an enigma code as the audience begins to wonder why this building is so significant.
The scenes continually dissolve into one another, which each scenes shot getting closer and closer to the building. The cinematography of dissolving each scene into one another is effective as it adds to the tension as we gradually get close and closer to the mansion, building up suspense in the process. As we approach the house the music becomes heavier and more prominent as we reach the building, again adding to the tension and sense of unease.
There is then a climax in the next scene where we see a medium shot of a window and a light suddenly switches off, cutting off the non diegetic sound in the process. However the music then returns and the light switches on again, as we dissolve into the next scene of a snow globe. We then see an extreme close up of a character's lips, later revealed as citizen Kane, as he says the word "rosebud". Kane then drops the snow globe and a nurse puts a white sheet over him. An enigma code is therefore created in this scene as the audience wonder what "rosebud" means and why it's so significant, it's significance shown by the extreme close up on Kane's lips as he says it before he dies. We realise he is dead as a nurse covers him with a white sheet, which connotes that he is now dead. The opening sequence then ends with a medium shot of the window, but from the inside, also making us question how the window is significant to the plot.
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