CQ,+Yoonji+Reem

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 - Rick is the main character who fell in love in Ilsa Lund in Paris. He fought the facists in spain and was always on the “good” side. He owns a cafe in Casablanca, Morocco. He is heart broken by losing Ilsa in Paris and he still has feelings for her.

Ilsa Lund - Ilsa Lund is the main character who is married to Victor Laszlo but had an affair with Rick Blaine in Parris because she thought that Laszlo is dead. She leaves Rick in Parris but returns to Laszlo. She continues to fight for the good and she ends up returning to Morroco, reuniting with Rick Blaine.

Victor Laszlo - Victor Laszlo is the husband of Ilsa Lund. He fought in the war but taken to concentration camp. He reunites with Ilsa later on and comes to Casablanca, hoping to buy letters of transmit from Ugarte and catch a to America in order to continue his work.

Captain Renault - Captain Renault is the police working for Nazi Major Strasser and his role was to capture Laszlo. However, in the end, he lets Victor Laszlo and Ilsa Lund to escape because Rick Blaine asked for help. He eventually stands on the good side.

Major Strasser - Majot Strasser is the leader of Nazi officers. He visits Rick’s cafe often and has a great pride in Nazi nationality. He gets furious when Lazslo starts singing the French national anthem, opposing the German Patriotic song, and demands Captain Renault to close the cafe. He attempts to capture Victor Laszlo.

Signor Ferrari - Signor Ferrari is a major leader in the criminal underworld and suspects Rick for having the letters of transit. He is a rival club owner of Rick Blaine.

Ugarte - Ugarte dies in Rick’s club for having letters of transit that were obtained by killing two Germans. He is arrested by the polices under Captain Renault’s commend. Ugarte dies without revealing where the letters are located.

Carl - Carl is the waiter who works in Rick’s cafe.

Sam - Sam is a black singer/ piano player who works in Rick’s cafe. He knows all the past relationship that Rick Blaine and Ilsa Lund had. He plays songs to Ilsa Lund that reminds her of Rick Blaine.

Annina Brandel - Annina Brandel is the young Bulgarian refugee. She is married to Jan Brandel.

What is the central conflict?

The central conflict of this movie is Rick Blaine’s struggle to save both Ilsa Lund and Victor Laszlo despite his remaining feelings towards Ilsa. He asks for Nazi captain Renault for help to get Victor and Ilsa out of Casablanca. The misunderstandings between Ilsa and Rick over why Ilsa left Rick in Parris becomes a gape in their relationships.

Describe the setting (both time and place) of the film.

The setting of the film is in Casablanca, Morroco during the early years of the World War II.

What is the general mood of the film? Be detailed!

The general mood of the film is very clam but sometimes very dynamic. When ever the movie focuses on the good parts of Rick and Ilsa’s relationship, such as when they were in Paris together, the mood of movie is very calm and happy. However, for example, when Rick struggles to save both Ilsa and Victor even though he still loves Ilsa, the mood of the movie is very dynamic and builds up suspense.

Briefly summarize the plot.

During WWII, Rick Blaine, who fought in the war for good side, settles in Casablanca, Morroco and owns a cafe. When he was back in Parris, he had an wonderful affair with his lover Ilsa Lund. However, unfortunately Ilsa Lund leaves Rick Blaine. Rick and Sam, his singer, carries a business in Casablanca and a lot of political figures and guests visit. One day, Ilsa Lund visits the cafe with her husband Victor Laszlo.

Not knowing why Ilsa leaves Rick, Rick suffers from his remaining feelings towards Ilsa. Ilsa tries to explain what happened, but Rick says that she is cheap. Soon after, Ilsa and Victor faces a situation where they need to get the letter and leave Morocco. After conflicts, Rick and Ilsa realizes their true feelings and understand each other. Even though Rick feels hurtful, he decides to help both of them to get out and get on a plane.

Captain Renault helps Rick, and they start a new friendship in the end.

From whose point of view is the story told?

The story of the movie is told from Rick Blaine’s point of view.

What was the structure of the film?

The structure of the film includes few flashback ( when the movie shows the time that Rick and Ilsa had in Parris) and emotion system that evokes audiences to feel emotional.

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

Plot- summarize the action abstractly in a single sentence or short paragraph Mood- describe the mood or feeling that is conveyed Character- describe the unusual aspects of his or her personality Style- describe the qualities that contribute to the special look or feel of the film Idea- identify the subject in a single word or phrase; explain what comment or statement the film is making about the subject

The mood and feeling that is conveyed in the movie is “love.” Despite the setting (which is the harsh environment during WWII), the characters build up lovable emotions and rich mood that makes the audience focus more on the feeling of sadness and happiness whether than the background settings of the movie.

Identifying the Theme: What was the primary aim of the film? Give reasons. providing pure entertainment--escape from the real world developing a pervasive mood or emotional effect providing a character sketch of a unique personality creating a consistent, unique feel or texture criticizing society and social institutions and raising awareness of a problem providing insights into human nature creating a moral riddle to ponder making moral implications to influence the viewers’ behavior exemplifying the struggle for human dignity exploring human relationships providing insight into a growth experience

The primary aim of the film is to develop a pervasive mood or emotional effect. The theme and the plot of the movie made the audience feel emotional, specifically sad and happy depending on the situation that characters face. When Rick Blaine lets Ilsa Lund go with Victor Laszlo despite his love towards Ilsa in the end of movie, the audience feels the same love and pain that Rick Blaine has.

Which items could be secondary aims? Explain your answer.

The secondary aim could be exploring human relationship because Rick Blaine discovers new friendship at the end of the movie. Even though the central aim and focus of the movie is related to the relationship that Rick and Ilsa has, Rick explores a new side of the relationship with Captain Renault when Renault lies in order to help Rick.

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 to the heart because the content and the theme of the movie is about love. When Rick Blaine and Ilsa Lund has an affair in Parris, the audience’s heart bumps with the characters. Also, when Rick Blaine lest Ilsa Lund go, the film makes audiences feel sadness from their heart.

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?

The statement of the film’s theme and focus stand up better after analyzing the elements of the film because I now see how each scenes or parts apply the elements and reflects the theme.

To what degree is the film’s theme universal?

The film’s theme is very universal because it is after all about the love, and anyone can understand the conflicts that occur during love and feel the happiness and sadness when loving some one.

Is the theme relevant to your own experience?

This theme is very relevant to my own experience because even it is not a lover, I have people who I love in my life such as my family and friends.

If you think the film makes a significant statement, why is it significant?

The film makes a significant statement because the plot line shows the sacrificing and ever lasting love through the conflicting and harsh circumstances.

Decide whether the film’s theme is intellectually or philosophically interesting or self-evident and boring. Defend your decision.

The film is intellectually interesting because it shows how people can turn the situation in to positive ending even when they face difficult situations.

Does the film have the potential to become a classic? Will this film be viewed watching it twenty years from today? Why?

This film have the potential to become a classic because the elements and the theme is universal and the scenes are not too obvious. Also, the plot is unpredictable.

Reflection: Who was your favorite character and why?

My favorite character was Rick Blaine because he after all sacrificed his love for his lover’s convenience. He could’ve easily get jealous about Ilsa Lund’s love, but instead he understood her and helped her.

Who was your least favorite character and why?

My least favorite character in the film was Major Strasser because he made situations difficult for both Rick and Ilsa.

What was your favorite part of the movie?

My favorite part of the movie was when Captain Renault and Rick Blaine walked together in the end of the movie saying “Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

What was your least favorite part?

The least favorite part of mine was when Rick called Ilsa a cheap women because it created more misunderstanding between them.

Did you learn anything from the movie? What was it?

Yes, I did learn something. I learned to not only love for your satisfaction, but love for the other person and sometimes sacrifice your benefits.