Casablanca

Casablanca

Casablanca was directed by Michael Curtiz in 1942. It is rated certificate PG which means children can watch it with parental guidance this is because there is some mild violence. As the film is made in the 1940’s I feel there isn’t really a specific target audience as films back then where made for every one to enjoy, but it does appeal slightly more towards women because of the romantic story line. The film has a non-linear structure although most the action takes place in a linear way, there are sections of flashbacks .

The film is set in French occupied Morocco during the Second World War. Many people fled Paris as the Nazis invaded, ending up in Casablanca unable to get visas to leave again. There are flashbacks to Paris to explain the relationship between Rick and Ilsa. The story is about Rick and Ilsa being reunited in Casablanca by chance. Rick and Ilsa met in Paris before the Nazi invasion and fell in love. They plan to flee Paris together when the invasion starts but Ilsa stands Rick up at the train station. They haven’t seen each other since then, when they bump in to each other in Casablanca. It turns out that Ilsa was married, but her husband was caught by the Nazis and put in a concentration camp. When Ilsa met Rick she thought her husband was dead, but on the day that they plan to run away together she receives news that he still alive. When they met in Casablanca Ilsa is with her husband, who is Czech resistance leader and is being chased by the Nazis, tehy need help to get out of Casablanca. Rick and Ilsa are still madly in love but can’t be together, so Rick helps Ilsa and her husband escape to safety putting himself in danger. “They’ll always have Paris”

Most of the film is set in Rick's cafe, it is glamourous and exciting everyone who is anyone is there “ everyone goes to Ricks”. There is a jazz band and a bar, the whole place is buzzing with laughter and fun. Alcohol is flowing and everyone has a drink in their hand. The men are wearing white tuxedos and suits, showing their wealth and style and the women are wearing luxurious evening gowns with exquisite jewelry and perfect hair and make up, the whole scene paints a picture of wealth and decadence. Rick, the hero of the film is instantly bought to your attention as everyone is crowded round him and there is hub of excitement as he enters.

The film has lots of close ups, to emphasise the characters' facial expressions and emotions. There are often reverse shots of the two lovers showing their reactions to each other. There are also very prolonged close ups with Ilsa or Rick looking wistful and emotional. When Ilsa and Rick kiss there is always a close two shot showing only the two characters and none of the background to concentrate on the intensity of the moment. The film is very emotional with lots of scenes only involving dialogue really and no action, with long conversations about emotions, that often end in crying.

In the climax of the film there are guns and violence which make the romantic side of the story even more exciting and dramatic. Ilsa and her husband manage to escape in the end and there is an emotional goodbye between Ilsa and Rick at the airport in the rain. This is called pathetic fallacy when the weather matches the mood of the scene and is often used in romantic scenes and is particularly effective here as it makes the last scene dramatic and gives the film a big finish.