"It doesn't take much to see that the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world.''ASSIGNMENT: From a modern perspective, Casablanca reveals interesting assumptions of the human condition. Ilsa Lund's role is basically that of a lover and helpmate to a great man; the movie's real question is, which great man should she be with?
How does SETTING influence this struggle and ultimately the climax of this film? Please respond in at least 200 words.
DUE: Friday, 3/13
This is no simple question with a simple answer to follow. There are many different ways to approach this question, whether it be morally or emotionally and everything else between. Morally, she should stay with Laszlo because he is her husband and has risked his life many times for her. Of course if you were to take a romantic stand point, you'd say Rick should have her. If you find yourself saying this, also consider the fact that this is a very selfish choice, on Rick and Ilsa's part. Then their characters would think that their love is bigger then the world itself.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I feel that Rick made the right choices by choosing the world over their love, disobeying laws by threatening to shoot Captain Renault and finally shooting Major Strasser. The climax to the movie was perfectly planned out, with everyone walking away feeling like they made the right choices. They feel this way because they all did make the right choices.
As for the setting of the movie, it was such a great time period and location for making a love story. With two opposing forces colliding in on the world of one man, who was described as “completely neutral,” when really he just likes to keep to himself can lead to a great many things.
Casablanca is a very interesting film because it amazes me about how it was not the cream of the crop in terms of film quality or props or even acting, but is a classic and a classic for me as well. For the question about who should Ilsa should have been with at the end, Lazlo or Rick. In my opinion I really agree that she went with Lazlo because it makes Rick the better man to let her go and that he loves her more. In my opinion if you love somebody enough you can let go of them for the better. I think the setting of the film really does make the film more attractive and interesting. One of my favorite reasons for this is how the plot changes from time to time and goes with the time period which is very interesting to see how these people act and respond in their time period with their problems. Also another thing I liked was the whole role of the French police in Casablanca and how they are caught in the middle between the Germans and the French Resistance and which side to support especially in the end when the police lieutenant sides with Rick after he killed the German officer. The setting created the plot and the whole theme of the movie, in my opinion it made the movie how it needed to be in feeling.
ReplyDeleteCasablanca's story is completely set up and also develops solely because of its setting. Casablanca as a city is an unstable city full of both Nazi's and French revolutionaries. This makes it take an interesting development because two enemies are living in and sharing a city. This lets there views merge and make people like Rick and Captain Renault who are sort of neutral towards either side and only helps people if they have good personalities and intentions. I liked how even though Captain Renault is a Nazi so you would think he always sides with his side, in the end he lets Rick leave and asks if he would like to go on a vacation with him. The development of both of these characters is completely thanks to Casablanca which allowed them to become who they are.
ReplyDeleteCasablanca is not only the name of the movie but also where the movie takes place; its setting. In unoccupied France, people of all kinds; from different countries, rebellion groups, and just some people that want to get away; come to escape the cruel Nazis invasion of Europe.
ReplyDeleteThree of these people are Rick, Ilsa, and Lazlo. Ilsa and Rick had once found love with each other, but since she is married to Lazlo, they can never be together. When Ilsa and Lazlo come to Casablanca and find Rick, Ilsa must choose between them.
Luckily for her, Rick makes this decision for her, by sending her and Lazlo off to freedom for the good of the war. If they had been in any other situation, things may have turned out differently. Perhaps Ilsa would have left Lazlo, or Rick would have worked harder to get Ilsa to himself.
Personally, I feel everything turned out how it should have been, and everyone made the right choices. But if just the setting had changed, maybe that would not have happened...