There's the importance of the flower (Alex's though is a carnation). Aren't there some camera angles of Alex in performance that may resemble some unusual camera angles in "Kane"? Alex's magnificent home . . .
Great points guys. Never thought of those before. There is one thing that comes to mind for me. This has to do with Welles, not Citizen Kane. He and Cassavetes were quite similar in their approach to making movies. Using their own money, writing, directing, producing, and even sometimes editng their own films. And of course starring in them. They both were not appreciated when they were alive, but after they died their work has been labled genius.