A Stylistic Analysis of Casablanca Casablanca is a film that is heavily driven by its characters.

It is, at first glance, a powerful love story; to merely call it a love story, however, would be to ignore the larger ramifications of the actions of its characters. Rick especially is placed in the middle of not one, but two conflicts: a complicated love triangle, and a global battle between the Axis and Allied powers. As we see, Rick cannot take part in the latter without first overcoming his issues with the former. Through various stylistic elements, Casablanca draws parallels between Ricks personal struggles with neutrality and the necessity to take action in the larger context of World War II. The setting of Casablanca plays a key role in the dichotomy between Ricks personal life and a larger societal issue. A town ripe with refugees, Casablanca provides the perfect backdrop for the struggle of freedom against the newly-empowered Nazi regime. Ricks Caf Americain similarly serves as a microcosm for the events in the world. The use of Americain in the title of Ricks caf is significant, in that the Americain caf can provide refuge and salvation much in the same way America could for the conquered French. Like America, however, Rick must first break his neutrality. The fact that the action takes place in December of 1941, the same month in which the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor took place, provides a further parallel between Ricks and Americas struggles with neutrality. It is this struggle which drives Ricks transformation and thus the film as a whole. Rick is presented as a very mysterious character at the beginning of the film. We hear his name and some minor details about the man before we actually see him, lending an aura of isolation to his character; he doesnt, for example, ever drink with any of the customers at his bar. At this point in the film, the range and depth of knowledge are quite narrow and shallow, respectively. Were not quite sure why Rick is the way he is, but he states several times that he doesnt stick his neck out for nobody! Slowly but surely, however, the viewer begins to see that perhaps there is more to Rick than meets the eye. While he may claim to not risk his well being for others, we can identify a bit of a leaning to one side or the other. He still offers papers of transit to refugees, albeit at a price, and at one point prohibits a man from a Deutsch bank from entering his bar. Rick, however, is almost embarrassed of these actions, refusing to acknowledge Louis claim that deep down, he is a sentimentalist. Perhaps most significant is the fact that Rick had fought twice, both times on the losing side, against the Nazis. A sense is conveyed to the viewer that Rick was not always as he is now, and that something had happened to him to change his entire outlook on life. If there is to be any hope for both Rick as a person as well as Laslos struggle against the Nazis, his character must change back to what he once was. Ilsas entrance, then, acts as the catalyst for Ricks eventual breaking away from that impartiality, much as the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor would end Americas stance of neutrality. The role of music in Ilsas entrance ought not to be ignored. As she tells Sam to play it, an extremely long take of a close up on her face invites the audience to ponder the significance of the song. Representing a time that Rick wishes he could forget, he is rightfully distraught upon hearing it and even more shocked to see Ilsa. This leads to the first step in Rick overcoming his neutrality. Alone with Sam in his bar after hours, Rick tells Sam to play it! The fact that this line of dialogue is repeated is rather significant. When Ilsa says it, we get the sense that she has come to terms with the results of her relationship with Rick. She may not be proud of what she had done, but she can at least be reminded of it. Now Rick, too, begins to come to

terms with his heart-break, as he is able to listen to the song while remembering the time they spent together. The flashback sequence is then used to not only reveal more information to the audience, but also to represent the first step in a very long and emotional transformation in Ricks character. While Rick is dealing with this conflict by choosing not to deal with it, distinct sides begin to be drawn in the larger struggle against the Nazi-controlled Morocco. When contrasted with Victor Laszlo, Ricks neutrality is all the more apparent. Here is a man who is clearly committed to his political cause first and everything else second. Although he appears to love Ilsa, the scenes in which they are together lack passion. In fact, they do not share a single kiss outside of a few minor pecks on the cheek. Victors passion does become evident, however, in one of the most emotionally moving scenes in the movie. As the German officers are singing their national anthem, Victor commands the band to play it! A battle of the anthems then ensues, with the French national anthem eventually overpowering the German anthem. Again, the repetition of the line play it! ought to be noted. This time, the line is said with such conviction and yields such a powerful result as to show what can be accomplished once a commitment to a cause has been made. As great a leader as Laszlo appears, he is still heavily dependent on Rick getting him his papers of transit. Ricks isolation, then, becomes not merely an issue of remaining neutral in his romantic affair with Ilsa, but an issue of importance to the anti-Nazi movement on a whole. Eventually, Rick cannot remain neutral any longer. Through a passionate scene with Ilsa, and after some time to reflect, Rick breaks his neutrality by helping Isla and Lazlo escape Casablanca. For this, he needed the help of Louis Renault, who also serves an important function in the film. Although his duties as Captain should imply a compliance with the German officers, we see that Louis too must overcome the conflict of being on the wrong side. Throughout the film, Louis is similar to Rick in that until the end, he does not take an active stance on matters of importance. For example, he sees the illegal gamblingat Ricks, but does little to stop it. In fact, some comic relief is derived from his acceptance of gambling winnings that he should be putting a stop to. At a crucial moment, however, he tells the other German officers to round up the usual suspects and thus saves Rick from arrest for murdering Major Strasser. By the end of the film, Ricks transformation is complete. After finally overcoming his personal demons with Ilsa, Rick breaks his neutrality and proves a great help to the anti-Nazi movement. An air of uncertainty, however, closes out the film. The use of heavy fog in the final scene indicates this uncertainty, as Ilsa and Laszlo take off into an unsure future. And yet despite being shrouded in doubt, the movie ends on a positive note. Rick has finally chosen a side, and will continue to help in the anti-Nazi movement. This is indicated in the final, and classic, line of the film: Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.