CQ+Josephine+Lee

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: -main character -owns a cafe in Casablanca -pretends to have no emotions but is a true romantic Ilsa Lund: -lover of Rick -dreamer, romantic, weak, feminine What is the central conflict? The central conflict of the movie is Rick’s need to choose between love and morals. Describe the setting (both time and place) of the film. The setting of the film is in Casablanca during World War II. What is the general mood of the film? Be detailed! The general mood of the film is nostalgic, lively, and dark. I think that the movie portrayed the mood of the time during the war by the music and filming style. Briefly summarize the plot. This movie combines both love and adventure. During the war, Rick, who owns a cafe in Casablanca, is confronted with a criminal who is carrying the letters of the Germans. People try and obtain these letters. Ilsa Lund, who is the wife of a Resistance leader, also wants the letters. While she is trying to get them, she confesses to Rick that she still loves him. Since he loves her also, he helps both her and her husband escape. From whose point of view is the story told? The story is told from the third-person perspective. What was the structure of the film? The structure of the film was black and white. I like this structure because it becomes a completely different film. Since is it a black and white movie, the atmosphere is more softer and calm. The director also uses a softening filter to make the character’s facial expressions look softer.

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

Style- describe the qualities that contribute to the special look or feel of the film I think that the filter that the director used for the film made it look special. Since the filter made the characters look blurry and softer, it heightened the overall mood and atmosphere of the movie. With the fuzzy screen, it was more nostalgic and emotional.

Identifying the Theme: What was the primary aim of the film? Give reasons. criticizing society and social institutions and raising awareness of a problem -I think that the movie criticizes social situations starting from the idea of a cafe where everyone goes to spend time regardless of nationality. Also, the fact the the movie itself is based on World War II is making a statement. creating a moral riddle to ponder -The moral riddle is: Would you choose love over morals? making moral implications to influence the viewers’ behavior -I think that the idea about choosing between morals and love itself is implicating influences towards the viewers. Which items could be secondary aims? Explain your answer.

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. I think that the film basically wants to appeal to the moral sense and aesthetic sense. Moral sense because it conflicts between mind and heart. Aesthetic appeal because of the way the movie is filmed, it evokes emotion. 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? I think that there needs to be more to think about (different aspects). To what degree is the film’s theme universal? I think the film is universal because everyone is able to watch it and fall into the story. Is the theme relevant to your own experience? The theme is not relevant to my own experience because I have never been in a situation where I needed to choose between two very important but also very different topics. If you think the film makes a significant statement, why is it significant?

Decide whether the film’s theme is intellectually or philosophically interesting or self-evident and boring. Defend your decision. I think this film is intellectually interesting because it gets the audience thinking about the difference during war, but also draws the audience in with love even thought it is cheesy. Does the film have the potential to become a classic? Will this film be viewed watching it twenty years from today? Why? It can be a classic because it portrays the time during the war well. Because of the information and the morals of the movie, this film will probably be viewed twenty years later.

Reflection: Who was your favorite character and why? My favorite character is Rick because even though he is/acts stiff and cynical, he definitely has a soft spot for things he cares for the most. Who was your least favorite character and why? My least favorite character is the German captain. It seemed like he was trying to be too manipulative. What was your favorite part of the movie? My favorite part of the movie was when Sam started to play the song on the piano. (Rick and Ilsa’s song) What was your least favorite part? Did you learn anything from the movie? What was it?