Michael Curtiz’s film, Casablanca, the film follows the love triangle between an expatriate, Rick Blaine, his former lover, Ilsa Lund, and her husband Victor Lazlo. Rick being a well known figure in the community must use his congenial disposition with the other to not only maintain his life style, but at the request of Ilsa, aid in the escape of Victor; an enemy of the state in Germany. Casablanca, acts as a middle point for European refugees fleeing Nazi Germany and eventually making it to the United States; causing the city to become a buzzing capital due to the massive influx of foreigners. Although the film demonstrates the power of self-sacrifice, the depiction of native citizens in Casablanca manifests in a negative way. Quite often “The Other”, or foreign entities are represented and embodied under …show more content…
Not only in clothing and cleanliness, but also in the environment; the saloon hat Rick manages is a staple for the European crowds and is clean, sprawling, and up kept, but the native market is dusty, congested and made of tents and small saloons. This physical representation immediately gives a tangible line between the citizens and well off foreigners. The Other are portrayed as simple people trying to take advantage of the visiting Europeans, as seen in the scene where Ilsa considers buying fabric from a native. The native immediately pulls Ilsa in trying to get her to buy the fabric, telling her how special it is, and the special price that comes with it. It isn’t until Rick challenges the quality that the merchant continuously drops the price in order to not lose the sale. This instance demonstrates the films negative depictions of the natives in Morocco, as the merchant is shown as trying to take advantage of Ilsa for the hope making money. Inherently, this scenario places a negative connotation upon the indigenous
In the essay “Beautiful Friendship: Masculinity & Nationalism in Casablanca”, Peter Kunze lavishly explains the magnificence of Michael Curtiz’s 1942 film Casablanca. Kunze focuses on how the movie not only highlights an exchange of relationships, but how the film has an underlying meaning between these relationships. He also implies that there is a more complex meaning behind every character in regards to their gender, economic, and social roles. The overall thesis of his reading is “the patriarchal ideology underlying the narrative commodifies Ilsa, leading Rick to exchange her with other men in an act of friendship and solidarity as well as to dissuade any perception of queerness between the strong male friendships in the narrative” (Kunze
The film Casablanca centers on an American man by the name of Rick Blaine who flees a German-occupied France during World War II to a city in Morocco by the name of Casablanca. (Casablanca, 1942) This city is a territory of France at the time and is out of full German jurisdiction due to this status. (Casablanca, 1942) Many citizens of German-occupied countries in Europe sought refuge here due to the lack of control Germany had on other countries’ territories early in the war. The general intent of refugees in Casablanca was to flee to even further countries such as The United States of America, which they could not achieve in their home, occupied countries. As the film’s plot develops, the viewer is introduced to refugees very important to the freedom-fighting movement France, and we learn that Rick originated in New York, U.S.A.
How much are you willing to sacrifice for another? Whether they are a family member or a complete stranger. In the novel The Kite Runner Baba was was willing to risk his life when he had stood up and was trying to stop the Russian soldier from rape the young woman as payment for letting them pass through one of the checkpoints. Then there had been Amir it was when he had suffered extreme injuries, nearly losing his life when he had fought Assef, so that he could save Sohrab for the abuse he was suffering from the Taliban. Both Character Baba and Amir were willing to sacrifice themselves for another person, regardless of who they were. Khaled Hosseini’s novel, The Kite Runner, teaches the reader sacrificing your life can lead to another person’s happiness through Baba saving the woman from the Russian soldier and Amir fighting Assef.
In the film Casablanca, directed by Michael Curtiz, a clear juxtaposition exists between Rick and America. Despite Rick’s numerous similarities to America and his deep longing to be part of the country, a physical and psychological barrier separates the two. With America practically being on the opposite end of the world, Rick understands that he cannot abandon his responsibility to aid and influence others in Casablanca. Rick is willing to sacrifice his personal comfort and well-being for the greater good of society. This juxtaposition between America and Rick foreshadows that the United States would soon become involved in the war by overtly displaying Rick’s transformation when he confronts his troubled past.
Audience members, when seeing Casablanca, would associate it as a war film, and I agree with that, but to be more precise, it is a pro-Allie war film. The literary elements in the film are the reasons why it can be viewed this way, with the emphasis on the plot and characters. The timing of when the film was released also supports the idea of it being an anti Axis film. Although it was set in 1940, it was made a year after Pearl Harbor and America entering the war, but it was released right before the Allies had a meeting in Casablanca, so the filmmakers seemed to have wanted the audience to empathize with the Allies. The whole plot seems to be focused around how Rick is neutral at the beginning of the film, but because of an old flame coming into his life once again, he slowly becomes in favor of the Allie side.
The film Casablanca, indeed, involves problems that Rick faced and he finally solved that problem, ending in a satisfying way. Risk’s equilibrium is disrupted when he is going to leave Paris with his girl friend Ilsa because Ilsa doesn’t showed up at last. Risk becomes a boss of a cafe in Casablanca but he never imagines that he would encounter Ilsa again. Ilsa walks into Risk’s life again by accident when she is planing to get a letter of transit in Casablanca in order to escape to America with her husband. At the same time, Nazi Major Strasser arrives in Casablanca and tries to stop Ilsa’s husband from leaving Casablanca. Risk’s equlibrium is disrupted again. Risk still loves and hates Ilsa, and moreover, he gets the letter of transit. Even though Risk wanted to stay with Ilsa and let her husband go to America alone, Risk finally let Ilsa and her husband go and killed the Nazi Major Strasser. That is a satisfying ending.
During the film Casablanca, there were many occasions where each character had a connection with the other. The entire film seemed to be about a man who is going through multiple complications of reality consequences without informing and information towards his loved one. As you can see in the movie Rick is trying to solve and deal with as many unideal situations for the sake of keeping his partner LSA safe and unaware from the events at all times. The Films shows motivation between him trying to do whats best for him and Llsa who is the partner of Rick shows a high trait of curiosity and awareness. Rick is also a character who moves in and out of hard shadows, often within a frame by himself.
The 1942 movie, “Casablanca” portrays a World War II era enclave where refugees fled Nazi Europe and used this unoccupied city as a safe haven while pursuing their dreams of coming to America. The main character is Rick Blaine, played by Humphrey Bogart, who owns a nightclub and casino in unoccupied Morocco during the Nazi era. Blaine, whose sole purpose appears to be money, illuminates a sense of arrogance and self righteousness as he assists in retrieving the necessary immigration documents for those who are willing to pay the price for their freedom. Hidden deep within his memory are the reflections of a women that he once loved, Ilsa Lund, played by Ingrid Bergman. The third leading role was that of Paul Henreid who played the Ilsa’s husband in the movie. Victor Laszlo, a Jewish activist who was on the run from the German Regime was once believed to be dead after being captured and placed in a concentration camp, during which time his wife (Ilsa) fled to Paris and ultimately had an affair with Rick Blaine.
Casablanca is one of many movies to show the context of the world effort. As films like this were written to promote propaganda and view out war. Americans were portrayed as hero’s along with always ending up on the right side. Many on films like Casablanca inspired people to become American soldiers for World War II. Being a part of making these films were a big deal as well. Again during this time War was important to the people. Everyone and anyone who participated in any type of way were appreciated.
The German invasion brings the Casablanca people together to rebel the trespassers, showing that people will bind together and rise against. Rick (Bogart) and Victor (Henreid) oppose each other, but for the greater purpose, they support each other. This movement is considered dignified and American people continuously support a congregation rising against unrighteous authorities. Even today, fighting against the intruders for their homeland rights remains a common American theme, such as record breaking Avatar, the popular Dances with Wolves, and the animated children’s film Ferngully. The Revolutionary war caused this reoccurring theme with Americans playing the rebels fighting against a controlling superior country. Casablanca portrays the timeless, reoccurring American theme of assembling movements against conformist aggressors.
“The greatest sacrifice is when you sacrifice your own happiness for the sake of someone else.” Sacrifice does not come easy, but one sacrifice can inspire many as seen in the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. In the novel McMurphy sacrifices himself to undergo a lobotomy to inspire the other men on the ward that they aren’t crazy and they can stand up for themselves.
“ Things are rough all over” by Cherry Valance. Cause the sacrifices they made and the violence they were exposed to, the “Greasers” struggled more that the “Socs”.In the book The Outsiders many people have a certain point of view, many people believe that the Greaser struggles more than the rich people the Socs. Darry drops out of high school to help his little brothers, they struggle more because their not wealthy and don’t have money or jobs like the Socs. Some people believe that the Socs have it harder because they are sometimes left alone and don’t have their mom and dad all the time.Cause the sacrifices they made and the violence they were exposed to, the “Greasers”
Robert B. Ray categorizes Casablanca as "the most typical" American film. Ray uses Casablanca as a tutor text for what he calls the formal paradigm of Classical Hollywood as well as the thematic paradigm that addresses the conflict between isolationism and communitarian participation. The film is typical in its appropriation of an official hero Laszlo, who stands for the civilizing values of home and community, and an outlaw hero Rick, who stands for individu...
The Gift of a Lifetime: Sacrifice in a Tale of Two Cities. Some men are engraved eternally in the hearts and minds of those he inspired. It is done so in a fashion that allows his name to live eternally, long after his ephemeral existence. However, what truly sets a man apart from his lesser counterparts is his willingness to give without taking.
A simple definition of sacrifice is to give up something for the sake of something else, whether it is for another human life, for an idea, or even for a belief. “She was 17 years old. He stood glaring at her, his weapon before her face. ‘Do you believe in God?’ She paused. It was a life-or-death question. ‘Yes, I believe in God.’ ‘Why?’ asked her executioner. But he never gave her the chance to respond. The teenage girl lay dead at his feet.” (DC Talk 17) This example of a sacrifice really happened at Columbine High School in Littleton, CO, on April 20, 1999. In the story Iphigenia and in today’s society, justification can be found in favor of the sacrifice of life for the lives of others, for the sake of one’s country, and for one’s religious beliefs.