CQ+Jeffrey+Ahn

Thematic Elements Viewing Questions

Directions: Please answer these questions after watching each film in the thematic unit. Please post your answers on your personal wiki page and bring in a hard copy to class after we finish each film.

Film Facts: List the main characters and write a short description about each one. Rick blaine This is the main character who owns the most popular nightspot in town. He is in love with llsa and had great times with her in Paris. He is a former freedom fighter but doesn’t want to do anything like that anymore. Victor Lazlo Lazlo is llsa’s husband and was in a concentration camp for awhile. He has valuable information about the underground leaders that many people want to find about. llsa Lund llsa is the beautiful lady that Lazlo and Rick go crazy about. She used to love Rick because she thought Lazlo would never come back. However Lazlo does so he had to leave Rick. Captain Renault Captain Renault is Rick’s friend and often helps him out in tough situations. He is very bright and funny and gets tricked by Rick later on in the movie but forgives him. Sam Sam is the piano player in Rick’s cafe and was with Rick in Paris.

What is the central conflict? The central conflict is Rick wants to be with llsa. However llsa has a husband and they both want to get out of Casablanca. However, only Rick has the papers to send them free. llsa and Lazlo will do anything to get those papers. However because llsa abandoned Rick in Paris, Rick does not want to give the papers.

Describe the setting (both time and place) of the film. The story is located in Casablanca which is where many war refugees go to. The time is during WWII where a lot of people were suffering.

What is the general mood of the film? Be detailed! The general mood of the film is actually quite romantic. Even though it took place in a time of war everything seemed so lovely. Even when Rick shot the high official to protect llsa it was really beautiful.

Briefly summarize the plot. The plot is mainly about love. Rick owns the most popular cafe in town which many rich and powerful people go to. Rick has illegal papers that could potentially save Lazlos life. llsa and Lazlo come to him and ask for the papers however he would not give them up because llsa left him in Paris. llsa does anything and she even points a gun. They eventually confess their love for each other and he gives them the papers. llsa and Lazlo eventually run away and Rick even shoots a high official to protect them.

From whose point of view is the story told? The point of view is told by Rick.

What was the structure of the film? The story is told mostly in chronological order. There are some flashbacks in between about when Rick and llsa were in Paris.

Theme and Focus: What is the film’s primary focus: plot, mood, character, style, or ideas? Answer one of these questions:

Mood- describe the mood or feeling that is conveyed The mood that is conveyed throughout the whole movie is love. Rick and Lazlo are completely obsessed over one girl llsa. It’s kind of confusing to find out who llsa actually loves though. She used to love Rick when she was in Paris. Love also makes Rick kill a high official. To save llsa and Lazlo from there plane to be stopped he would do anything. The power of love also makes Lazlo basically sacrifice his life. He wants to make llsa safe and he says he will stay in Casablanca for her.

Identifying the Theme: What was the primary aim of the film? Give reasons. Developing a pervasive mood or emotional effect One of the primary aims of this film was to create a mood of love. The relationship between Rick and llsa is very complicated because of Lazlo. Throughout the movie there are flashbacks of Rick and llsa in Paris and how everything was so romantic. They say some of the most cheesiest lines however you can feel the love that they had. However its complicated because llsa is already married but she thought she wouldn’t see Lazlo ever again. However he does and she leaves Rick in Paris with Sam. You can feel the pain that Rick goes through and he acts very bitter towards llsa when he sees her in Casablanca.

Which items could be secondary aims? Explain your answer. Exploring human relationships Secondary aims of the film could be the relationship between humans. The characters would do anything for the people they love. Lazlo and Rick were willing to sacrificing their lives just to keep llsa safe. Rick even shoots a high official to keep her safe. Friendship is also very important. Rick and Captain Renault are great friends and although Rick betrays him the Captain still protects him from the police.

Evaluating the Theme: Is the film’s basic appeal to the intellect, to the funny bone, to the moral sense, or the aesthetic sense? Is it aimed at the erotic sense, the viscera (blood and guts), the heart, the yellow streak down the back, or simply the eyes? Support with evidence from the film. The film’s basic appeal goes to moral sense. Rick is a very good guy and does things for the right reasons. He helps out many people who deserve it and lets others get in trouble who did bad things. It is not aimed at the funny bone although their were funny parts of the film. It could also be aimed at the heart because the movie is just so romantic and your hearts pounding with excitement.

How well does your statement of the film’s theme and focus stand up after you have thoroughly analyzed all the elements of the film? My statement of the film’s theme and focus stands up after I thoroughly analyzed all the elements of the film. Their are so many themes in the movie and I only talked about a little part of it. There are themes of human nature and also love.

To what degree is the film’s theme universal? The degree of this film’s theme is universal because love is felt everywhere and anywhere. Every human being feels love to someone or something. So anyone around the world can feel the romance of Rick, llsa, and Lazlo.

Is the theme relevant to your own experience? The theme is relevant to my own experience because I love my family and I know what it feels like to really get hurt. I would do anything for my family if they were in trouble because I love them. Just like Rick did for llsa.

If you think the film makes a significant statement, why is it significant? I don’t really think the film made a significant statement. I think the movie was mainly about love and how it made the foundation for love movies in the future.

Decide whether the film’s theme is intellectually or philosophically interesting or self-evident and boring. Defend your decision. I think the film is intellectually interesting because we don’t really know the theme of the movie until later on in the movie when llsa comes out. Before llsa came out it was just Rick smoking and being all cool by smoking and sending people out of his cafe. The movie is not boring and self-evident. I enjoyed this movie greatly and it was very interesting.

Does the film have the potential to become a classic? Will this film be viewed watching it twenty years from today? Why? This film has the potential to become a classic because it was one of the greatest love movies. This film is still watched today even though it was made 60 years ago. I asked my mom if she had watched this movie and she also had too. It layed the foundation of what all love movies are going to be.

Reflection: Who was your favorite character and why? My favorite character was Captain Renault because he said the most funniest quotes ever. Even when he was about to get shot he says sentences in the most unorthodox ways. For example when he goes like “That is my most vulnerable place” when Rick points the gun at his heart. He is also very bubbly throughout the whole movie and even forgives Rick when he shoots a high official.

Who was your least favorite character and why? My least favorite character is Lazlo because he is just so mysterious. He seemed really sneaky and selfish. Although he wanted to do anything to save llsa he had to do bad things to get them. He worked for the underground and seemed liked the typical rich snob.

What was your favorite part of the movie? My favorite part of the movie were the flashbacks of when Rick and llsa were in Paris. Everything seems so much clearer because the audience didn’t really know what was going on before. The flashbacks are also very happy and romantic which contrast to the gloominess in Casablanca.

What was your least favorite part? My least favorite part was the very beginning because it didn’t really pull me in that much. I didn’t really understand what much of the movie was about. It was really confusing and I didn’t know who the character or the plot was about. It was just really sudden when the guy who sells illegal visas gets shot.

Did you learn anything from the movie? What was it? What I learned from the movie was how movies portray love and emotions. It felt really good watching how the director made everything so perfect by using flashbacks and present time. The movie was also very entertaining for a black and white movie. I always felt that the stereotype that black and white movies are boring but this proved me wrong.