CQ,+Sarah+Cho

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. The main characters in this movies are Rich Blaine, Lisa Lund, Victor Laszlo, and Captain Renault. Rich Blaine was an owner of saloon, and this place was a very successful place. He had his own rule that he must never drink with the customers at first, but later the movie shows that he had been hurt by a woman once and does not want to experience it again. Lisa Lund, was the main girl character that took Rich and Victor’s (current husband) heart. She is a girl who has the ability to attract people, and in the movie was shown as one of the most beautiful women. Victor Laszlo was Lisa Lund’s husband, and he was a French person. He attended the Underground meetings secretly, and had lots of nationalism. Lastly, Captain Renault is a French captain, who eventually helps Lisa and Laszlo escape to America from Casablanca.

What is the central conflict? The central conflict of the movie, “Casablanca,” is the idea of escaping to America to live under peace and tranquility. After the World War II, people were under the German’s power, and they wanted to escape from them. Thus, the main conflict is helping Lisa and Victor to escape Casablanca.

3. Describe the setting (both time and place) of the film. The setting of the film is during the World War II and in Casablanca.

4. What is the general mood of the film? Be detailed! The general mood of the film is dark, with some jokes, but very thrilling and analytic. While watching this movie, it made me think of 007 (James Bond) because they both were some important character helping one side even though their lives would be in danger.

Briefly summarize the plot. The movie starts off with a man, Rich, being especially cold to women, but successful. He is like a hero to the soldiers because they were able to catch the person who stole the propaganda due to Rich. However, when one couple comes to his coffee shop, its his first time breaking his rule of “not drinking with customers.” The woman and his relationship was related with love. However, the couple needs the passport to leave Casablanca, but the German and French soldiers won’t let them leave because the man, Laszlo, attends underground meetings. Thus, to save his once-loved woman, he decides to sacrifice himself and make them escape. But at the end, he shoots the German soldiers, and the French soldier decides not to arrest him, but rather help him escape from Casablanca as well.

From whose point of view is the story told? This movie is told from a third person’s point of view, where they were able to watch all cases of the characters.

What was the structure of the film? The structure of the film was a beginning, middle, and end, but included some flashbacks in the middle with the relationship of Rich and Lisa.

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

Character- describe the unusual aspects of his or her personality The unusual aspects of Rich’s personality is that he is very calm compared to the other characters, and acts in a logical way. For example, at the end, when the gun was pointed at him and the German general came, he tried to consult him by words, and dealt the situation in a very natural way.

Identifying the Theme: What was the primary aim of the film? Give reasons. The primary aim of the film was providing a character sketch of a unique personality because although the main idea of this movie was the World War II, it focused more on the character, Rich. He had a personality and belief different from most of the characters in the movie, and was able to become a savior and help to many characters.

Which items could be secondary aims? Explain your answer. A secondary aim of this movie could be providing insights into human nature because this movie was mainly about “love” and this theme is influenced in many people’s lives. Such impact can be impacted and learned from this movie.

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 was to the moral senses because it touched the feelings deep inside the audience which was love. This feeling came through by Rich expressing his feelings towards her by protecting her and her lover. It is aimed at the heart because without the feelings involved, then people won’t be able to notice how much rich loved Lisa. For example, when Rich lied to her by saying that even though he stays, his punishments won’t hurt him at all, it showed how much he had loved her and still did.

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 I stated stands up well after thoroughly analyzing all the elements of the film because

To what degree is the film’s theme universal? The film is very universal since the World War II (setting) was known through-out the whole world, and the experience Rich has with love always exists human’s feelings. Is the theme relevant to your own experience? Personally, the theme is very relevant to my own experience because I experienced the consequences of letting go someone that I loved.

If you think the film makes a significant statement, why is it significant? I think the film does not really make a significant statement because its theme can be represented in many different movies, and this, to me, was just one of the movies with the theme “love.”

Decide whether the film’s theme is intellectually or philosophically interesting or self-evident and boring. Defend your decision. The film’s theme is intellectually interesting because in order to understand this movie, it involves logical analyzation. Since the movie has many scenes that may be confusing due to language and history, people need to think hard to comprehend who’s who, and what is going on.

Does the film have the potential to become a classic? Will this film be viewed watching it twenty years from today? Why? The film has the potential to become a classic because it involves many different themes, main idea of the history, and as well as culture. These themes is and will still be significant information to learn for people to analyze and learn about. Thus, this movie will be watched for the good of learning and enjoying a movie.

Reflection: Who was your favorite character and why? My favorite character was Rich because he was the heroic character and was able to help out people fall in love. He acted in a way where women can be attracted to.

Who was your least favorite character and why? My least favorite character was Lisa because whenever she talked, her feelings contradicted what she expressed to another. Also, Lisa lied to her current husband about Rich and her relationship in Paris.

What was your favorite part of the movie? My favorite part of the movie was the last part, where Rich was helping Lisa and Laszlo escape Casablanca. This was the most thrilling part of the movie because there was a chance of being caught by the German soldiers, however was able to safely depart the country.

What was your least favorite part? My least favorite part of the movie was when Lisa secretly came into Rich’s saloon and started expressing her feelings. This was not only cheesy, but it showed how much of a liar she was to everyone including her husband.

Did you learn anything from the movie? What was it? What I learned from this movie was the fact that love can make anything happen, although it is against the law. Love can be a motivation, especially to men, to accomplish what the girl wants. Thus, the movie showed that men’s love toward a women can sometimes become a dangerous event in their lives.