Casablanca
Despite
having seen Casablanca many times
before this viewing, I still greatly enjoyed the film—perhaps even more so than
I have in the past. This time, I was
watching Casablanca with a more critical
eye, paying close attention to the ways in which certain elements work together
to create this fantastic, classic film.
With this viewing, I paid more attention to the roles minor characters
played in developing the overall narrative of the film, and I also noticed the
ways in which various techniques—particularly lighting—enhance the film and its
meaning. Overall, this has probably been
my most thorough viewing of this film, and it seems to be forever changed for
me.
After watching the film and reading
some reviews and articles about the film, I better understood the America this
film was being released to, and why this film is so closely linked to the
phrase “The way that we wish we were” (Dr. Permenter). The conclusion of the film, which always
feels incredibly tragic but also has a note of light-heartedness with Louis and
Rick’s friendship, really is the only way this movie could have ended. As Roger Ebert writes if Rick and Ilsa had
stayed together in the end, “…the ‘happy’ ending would be tarnished by
self-interest…,” but in the ending we are given, Rick is able to be seen as
someone very noble, and the audiences’ hearts break for him and Ilsa
(“Casablanca”). After watching the film
for this course, Ebert’s comment about the conclusion made perfect sense;
although there is a part of viewers that longs for Ilsa and Rick to be together
in the end, the film would not have been nearly as powerful, and their love
would not be as real, if Rick and Ilsa had gotten on that plane; instead of
feeling both sadness and contentment at the end of the movie, viewers may feel
pleased at Rick and Ilsa being together, but this feeling would be flawed by
knowing that Rick’s actions to get the two of them together were definitely
less than noble. After seeing an
understanding Victor Laszlo give both Ilsa and Rick an opportunity to admit
their love for each other, Rick’s actions leading up to the plane’s take off
would have tarnished his character, as well as Ilsa’s.
Throughout
all of the heartbreaking scenes in this film, some of the most heartbreaking
ones have to be when Rick reads Ilsa’s letter and one of the concluding shots
of the movie where viewers see Victor and Ilsa walk into the fog in front of
Louis and Rick. Many things work
together in these scenes to create the heartbreaking atmosphere as well as
heartbreaking content. As Rick reads
Ilsa’s letter at the train station, the pouring rain adds to the misery of the
scene by not only drenching a waiting and eagerly anxious Rick, but also serves
the purpose of blurring and wiping away Ilsa’s words, and therefore Ilsa
herself. The way in which the words drip
down the page from the rain reflects how Rick’s feelings for Ilsa—and Rick’s
very personality—have also drowned in the rain.
Rick changes from a character who was somewhat lighthearted and
romantic, to one who is very mysterious and cynical, a change which the
filmmakers emphasize by shadowing Rick’s face for the majority of the
film. Rick’s feelings for Ilsa fade away
with her words as he hardens himself to her and love in general, or at least
this is what he tells himself. The
filmmakers excellently thought out and filmed this scene to add its saddening
nature and make it even more relevant to the rest of the film.
Another very poignant scene is similar
to the letter scene in that it also uses nature to enhance the sadness of the
moment. In this shot at the conclusion
of the film Rick stands back with Louis at his side watching Ilsa and Victor
walk into the fog toward the plane that will take them to Lisbon. Viewers are already on edge from having just
witnessed Ilsa and Rick’s last conversation where Rick explains to Ilsa why she
must go with Victor, telling her, “We’ll always have Paris,” and “Here’s
looking at you, kid” in a way that both breaks viewers’ hearts, and causes them
to fall in love with Rick, and now viewers watch with Rick as Ilsa disappears
into the fog with Victor. This picture
is taken in a telephoto style shot where Rick remains in focus as Victor and
Ilsa blur into the background, disappearing from site. The fog in this scene serves a function in allowing
Victor and Ilsa to disappear easily, but it also enhances the sadness and hints
back at the raining letter scene, since once again Ilsa is leaving Rick’s life,
but this time she is not completely washed away; instead, Ilsa just quietly walks
into the fog not fully disappearing from Rick’s or the viewers’ lives, rather she
simply blurs into the background. As Ebert perfectly concludes his
article, “…as we leave the theater, we are absolutely convinced that the only
thing keeping the world from going crazy is that the problems of three little
people do after all amount to more than a hill of beans,” which leaves viewers
with a feeling that even amidst the craziness of the world, we all do mean
something, and the relationships we all hold also possess meaning. Although viewers know Rick and Ilsa are not together
at the conclusion of the film, Louis and Rick’s friendship, at least, has reached
a new level as is evident by Rick’s famous line, “Louis, I think this is the beginning
of a beautiful friendship.” Even though Rick
does not end up with the love of his life, he still has friendship at the conclusion
of the film, which gives viewers some consolation.
Works Cited
Ebert, Roger.
“Casablanca.” Rogerebert.com. Chicago Sun Times, 15 Sept.
1996. Web. 12 June 2013.
http://movies.toptenreviews.com/reviews/mr1908-rank-4-reviews.htm
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