Casablanca

Casablanca is a beautiful picture not only filled with famous, quotable sayings that my generation still uses today, but also numerous metaphors. For example, the tough-faced Rick represents the United States; the beautiful Ilsa is not only French, but she represents her mother country; Laszlo, the Czechoslovakian stands for all of those suppressed by the reign of the Nazis; Major Strasser not only depicts the German tyranny, but also the general military hostility in the world during this time period. Rick is portrayed as the neutral force in Casablanca, just as the US was until the bombing of Pearl Harbor. As Ilsa reenters Rick’s life his bitterness emerges and the film becomes increasingly tense. As Rick fights an inner struggle of wanting to regain what he and Ilsa had in Paris while at the same time realizing that in the long run the image in his mind could not materialize as Ilsa was still in love with her husband Victor Laszlo, Rick fights an outward struggle as to whether or not he should give the illegally obtained transit papers to Laszlo and Ilsa. As the film progressed and came to a close, Rick realized that he must stand up for the underdog as he had done his whole life, he gave Laszlo and Ilsa the papers they needed to get them to a land where they could fight for all those suppressed in Eastern Europe. Throughout the majority of the film, the theme of sacrifice was very evident.

Aside from the references established between the characters and their home countries and the various relationships between those countries; the music, costumes, and atmosphere really did draw the viewers into the city of Casablanca and made it extremely easy to place yourself in the time and place of the people who truly did live the Casablanca experience. The experience of watching Casablanca in the theater setting was much more enjoyable than viewing it in a traditional classroom on a standard sized, and quality television. It enhanced the lifelikeness of the film and made it easier for me to place myself in the movie.