Casablanca+Questions,+Corie+Hahn

Corie Hahn August 29, 2009 Film As Literature 11G

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, played by Humphrey Bogot is the main character of the movie and he is a wealthy owner of the hit refugee called “Rick’s Cafe Americaine” in Casablanca. At the beginning of the movie, the audience does not know why he cannot return to his home country and we find out later in the movie in 1935, he fought the Fascists in Spain. He is involved in a love triangle with a woman who was in Paris with him who already has a husband.

The next main character is Illsa Lund who is a young woman and in Paris, she meets Rick Blaine and soon falls in love with him. Throughout this affair, she had already been married to a man by the name of Victor Lazlo who is a Czech Resistance fighter. She is still in love with Rick, and is caught between this love triangle.

What is the central conflict?

There are many problems in this movie, but what the film essentially revolves around is the dynamics between what happened in World War II. The Germans, who were seeking refuge in America would have to come to Rick’s Cafe in Casablanca, and Rick Blaine, being the owner of this cafe, is entrusted the letters of transit which he wants to sell but does not to the person who wants it most-- Victor Lazlo. Since Lazlo’s identity, once revealed, can be a huge threat to the cafe, things start to turn upside down as Rick try to figure out what’s going to be the best for Illsa.

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

This film is happening around the 1940s and its taken place in Morroco, Casablanca.

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

Since this film is old, the general mood of the film is very dark. The music is very dark and compliments the mood of the film. There are many dynamics to the film because it is very mysterious because if one is caught with fraud, one can be killed so I think the directors really wanted to emphasize the dark and hidden feeling of the film so he made the music darker and usually, the setting is held during night time and that really brings out what the movie was really trying to portray.

Briefly summarize the plot.

Rick Blaine, with reasons that cannot be explained why he cannot move back to his home country, the United States, holds his own cafe called, Rick’s Cafe held at Morroco, Casablanca. It is a place for mostly German soldiers seeking refugee and when Victor Laszlo, a Czech underground leader comes, the plot seems to shake because he brings Ilsa, his one time love with him. This causes Rick to be caught in this love triangle and finding out the truth why Ilsa left him in the first place in Paris not so long ago.

From whose point of view is the story told?

The point of view the story is being told is by Rick Blaine.

What was the structure of the film?

The structure of the film has many different transitions and although at first, it was hard to follow, it seemed to make sense at the end. For example, when I did not know why Rick Blaine was holding the cafe in the first place and cannot move back to the United States, it was because he could not go back there due to safety reasons. Another example would be when the audience did not know why Ilsa left Rick who just left him a note but it would be later revealed that the main reason was because she had another husband waiting for him and she found out that he was alive, and she knew that if she told him the truth then, Rick would never leave and be safe.

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

Character: The Film’s major and primary focus was character because the whole movie is revolved around Rick Blaine. Through the surface, he seems like a very cynical and isolated type of guy but further into the story, we see his true character. We learn more about why he is neutral and never picking sides and how he had been depressed over Ilsa and the significance of her character to his life.

Identifying the Theme: What was the primary aim of the film? Give reasons.

I would have to choose J because I think the main primary aim of the film is to really indulge in the dynamics of the complexities of human relationships. For example, Rick Blaine is caught between his love and what he desires and what is best for him. In the end, he chooses what is best for her and that teaches the audience how the power of human relationships can affect their decisions.

Which items could be secondary aims? Explain your answer.

Items that could be secondary aims would be the love triangle between Lazlo, Rick, and Ilsa. Since it is a love movie and the primary aim would be the relationship between Rick and Ilsa, the secondary aims could be the love triangle which helped the primary aim move further.

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 is to the moral sense because we can see how Rick made his decision at the end of the movie and can see who his true friends are. At the beginning of the story, he was very cynical and not open to others, but we learn throughout the movie and what the film is trying to put out to the audience that Rick has a softer heart than most people think he does and he does his best for the people who he truly loves.

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?

After I have thoroughly analyzed all elements of the film, I still stick with my statement and I think it does bring out the same ideas as I would have prior to this analysis.

To what degree is the film’s theme universal?

The film’s theme is universal because in different movies like The Notebook, A Walk To Remember, Romeo and Juliet, Pride and Prejudice, and many more-- there are conflicts with the dynamic between those who you truly love and what you should do. Therefore, this movie can represent many degrees of what the film brings out a theme that is universally accepted to the world.

Is the theme relevant to your own experience?

In broad terms, I do think that the theme is relevant to my own experience because as human beings, we are conflicted with decisions that consider what you should do and what you want to do. In this film’s case, it is what Rick has to sacrifice if he lets go of Ilsa.

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

I think the film does make a significant statement because not only is it universal and can apply to many people world wide, it is significant because these themes are reoccurring in our daily lives-- what we should do, and what we want to do. Decide whether the film’s theme is intellectually or philosophically interesting or self-evident and boring. Defend your decision.

The theme is philosophically interesting because it made me think about the decisions that humans have to face everyday and I think the movie implicates a philosophy into your head that whatever you face, the consequences are always important and that you should not take it for granted.

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

The film is already a classic and I think that this movie will be viewed twenty years from today because it is such a classic and sometimes, the classic is better than the modern movies with all those effects.

Reflection: Who was your favorite character and why?

My favorite character is Rick Blaine because throughout his cold outer appearance, he still has a softer side to him and brings out a unique sense of character at the end of the movie, when he chooses Ilsa over his own desires and that is what makes him such an admirable and respectable character.

Who was your least favorite character and why?

My least favorite character would probably have to be Lazlo because despite what his wife was telling him, he should have known that Ilsa belonged with Rick. However, he brought the plot together.

What was your favorite part of the movie?

My favorite part of the movie was when Rick says, “Louie, I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship.” because I heard that line many times before, but I didn’t know where it came from and that one line seemed to pull everything together in the movie. Even though Ilsa left Rick, there still remains hope in Casablanca.

What was your least favorite part?

My least favorite part of the movie when Ilsa was trying to tell Rick the truth but he wouldn’t listen. I thought that he should have at least given her a chance to explain herself before he made that irrational judgement.

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

I learned from the movie that there are going to be many decisions in your life whether it be small or big, but the consequences you will overlook through every decision is important. If you’re willing to accept the consequences, then you should make that decision. However, if you are not ready to make that responsibility or commitment when making your decision, I do not think that you should make the decision since it can lead to consequences that can be overwhelming.