Casablanca Film Analysis

The Epstein brothers created Casablanca, one of America’s best classic films revolving around romance and drama. Written and set during World War 2, it encompasses the nature of people distancing themselves far away from the conflict. This film was a political statement to American citizens who are neutral about the war after Pearl Harbor being bombed as a way of getting viewers to oppose the Nazis, and have more men enlist in the army to fight for their country. The protagonist Rick Blaine owns a bar in Casablanca, Morocco where it is a melting pot for all nationalities and soldiers both Allies and Axis forces. One night, Rick sees his former lover Ilsa accompanying her husband who the Nazi’s are chasing after due to him escaping a concentration

During the scene where Rick was reflecting on his memories of Ilda, the usage of low-key lighting displayed Rick’s emotions without having to describe it with dialogue. With having little light in the frame symbolizes to the viewer that Rick is having feelings of sadness with from the light reflecting on his forehead showing his furrowed brow, and that he is staring at his drink to forget what is bothering him. The low-key lighting is to represent sorrow and sadness, whereas high-key lighting is to represent happiness and hope which the film also displays. Another scene that used low-key lighting was the confrontation Rick and Ilda had where Rick insults her. In the scene, it is very dark and has many shadows to represent the internal sadness he still feels towards her when she left him in Paris. The flashback screen involving Rick and Ilda implements high-key lighting symbolizing to viewers to a time where Rick was his happiest because he was with the love of his life. The scene itself is the two planning out their future together, and with the lighting of the scene highlighting them both lets the viewer feel a sense of hope that their relationship will work out at the end of the movie. Not only did the director implement lighting style towards the main characters, but also implemented for minor

The film had mid-shots, closeups, and the 180-degree rule. When two or more characters were having a conversation, there would be a mid-angle shot on the characters at first, then turn into using the 180-degree rule. The significance of this style makes the dialogue flow by showing each character involved in the scene, and how they react to what was said. That style keeps the viewers engaged to what is going on in the scenes, and can see the different points of views of everyone in the scene. This is apparent in the scene where Rick was talking with insert dude’s name here up in his