Friday, June 14, 2013

Poeppel Casablanca

  

            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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