Casablanca

Casablanca is my first foray into the world of classic Hollywood cinema. As the black and white title card flickered onscreen, I felt extraodinarily self-righteous - is this how film buffs feel all the time? At first, I felt as if I didn't have a whole lot to say about this 1942 romantic drama; 'It was good,' I thought, 'not mindblowing, just good.' Yet, as I began to write this review, I realised this wasn't exactly the case.

The story is set in the Vichy-controlled city of Casablanca, where our protagonist Rick (Humphrey Bogart) runs a nightclub and casino. 'Rick's' functions as a frenetic hotbed of social activity, where German soldiers, Vichy French troops, refugees and local residents all converge in a convivial haze. An array of fantastically colourful characters frequent 'Rick's', including Captain Renault (a flagrantly corrupt police chief), Sam (the genial pianist) and Ugarte (a petty crook dealing in the lucrative trade of exit visas). As music swells and drinks are thrown back, patrons gamble away their lives, desperate to escape on a plane that departs once a day, bound for America. As it flies tantalisingly overhead, the aircraft represents a flicker of hope for many, but Rick watches on with indifference. Our protagonist is a cynical, unfeeling sort, unfazed by the violence that occasionally erupts in his bar. As long as his business is unaffected, Rick's moral code is unwaveringly neutral. This will all change when the beautiful Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman) re-enters his life.

Casablanca establishes itself as a ruthless microcosm of human life, concealed under the guise of bustling markets and lively saloons. The weak are preyed on by crooks and corrupt officials, whilst the ever-present threat of the Nazi regime (most prominent through Major Heinrich Strasser) looms over the city. Whispers of resistance mingle with fear, creating a volatile environment ready to implode at any moment. Rick learns from Ugarte that the famed Czechoslovakian resistance leader, Viktor Lazslo, has escaped a concentration camp and is on his way to Casablanca. Ugarte has mysteriously acquired two letters of transit following the murder of two German soldiers, and intends to sell them to the highest bidder. The letters grant free travel around Europe and are, therefore, priceless. Shortly afterwards, Ugarte is arrested at 'Rick's and mysteriously dies in custody. Unbeknownst to the authorities, the 'missing' visas have already been entrusted to Rick for safekeeping.

A fantastic start on all accounts: the lively cast and discordant backdrop immediately draw you into the world. Finally, the infamous Viktor Lazslo (Paul Heinreid) and his wife, Ilsa, enter 'Rick's'. Ilsa asks Sam to play 'As Time Goes By', a song Rick has forbidden. Rick consequently storms over, demanding answers. Eyes lock, lips tremble and Rick is left speechless.

A lengthy flashback takes us to Paris in 1940, revealing Rick and Ilsa's passionate love affair before the German occupation. Both are secretive, but soon fall deeply in love. As the Nazi's march into Paris, Ilsa and Rick agree to meet at the train station and flee the country together. In a devastating scene, Rick waits nervously for Ilsa, but to no avail. She never arrives. Rick, heartbroken, leaves alone. Her reappearance years later reveals Rick's coldness not as cruelty, but the symptom of heartbreak.

Back in the present, Lazslo is being hunted by the Nazis, and both his and Ilsa's fates rest in Rick's hands. Rick initially refuses to give over the papers to Lazslo, still wounded by the events of Paris. Later, Isla confronts him and threatens him with a gun in a desperate fit of rage. Breaking down, she reveals that on the day of the couple's arranged escape from Paris, she discovered that Lazslo (whom she had believed dead) had escaped a concentration camp but was gravely injured. In a split-second decision, she left Rick to nurse her husband back to health. The heartbreaking confession dissolves Rick's bitterness and the couple embrace. Though the scene risks melodrama, it remains devastatingly raw and watching it felt like a punch in the gut. Take notes, Charles and Carrie from Four Weddings and A Funeral, this romantic plotline was truly deserving of the screen time. Rick tells Isla he'll help Lazslo escape before they can begin their life together anew.

Meanwhile, resistance begins to seep into the cracks of the Nazi's occupation of Casablanca. In one memorable bar scene, Strasser and his men are singing "Wacht am Rhein" when Lazslo stands and commands the rest of 'Rick's' to sing "La Marseillaise" in a rousing act of resistance. The moment reminds us that this is not just a love story, but a commentary on the bravery of those who endured the hostile occupation of their home. Crucially, Lazslo is not reduced to an obstacle in the way of a glorious love affair. Courageous, kind and astute, he sees through Rick and Isla's secret immediately. Calmly, he reveals his suspicions to Isla, not with anger, but with calm reason. He understands the turmoil she must have experienced during his internment and does not blame her for it. Placing such a likeable supporting character alongside the two leads makes the story all the more compelling: we are invested in every possible outcome.

Various humorous vignettes keep the plot trotting on alongside the captivating love story. A notable scene involves a Bulgarian couple enthusiastically speaking broken English as they plan to move to America. Casablanca's myriad of characters and side plots are not just comic relief: they signal that, even in oppressive spaces, humans can endure and retain a sense of levity.

With Ilsa's return, Rick's steely neutrality collapses. He aids a fleeing couple by fixing their bet at the casino, leading them to win a hearty sum of cash. This comes as a surprise to Rick's employees, who have clearly rigged the games under his orders. No longer motivated by self-interest and financial profit, Rick uses his influence to help those in need. In aiding their escape, he has finally chosen a side.

The night of the escape, Renault attempts to arrest Lazslo, but Rick holds him at gunpoint and forces him to assist with the escape. When the group reach the airport, Rick selflessly forces Ilsa onto the plane with Lazslo. In Viktor and Ilsa, he sees an embodiment of hope and resistance he cannot yet hope to achieve. The heartbreak of the moment is fantastic: Casablanca resists our hopes of a romantically satisfying ending, but finishes with a more enduring prospect. Rick finds a purpose in saving Ilsa and Viktor, reinvigorating his fighting spirit. "Welcome back to the fight", Lazslo says to him before flying away, "This time I know our side will win." Rick is no longer the apathetic pessimist we met at the beginning of the film and this self-discovery is certainly more powerful than the beauty of a neatly concluded love story.

As the plane takes off, droves of soldiers approach the hangar and we are prepared for Rick's redemption arc to meet its end. Yet, as Casablance proves, people are able to defy even their own expectations. Inspired by Rick's act, Renault saves him, telling his officers to go and 'round up the usual suspects.' As the two walk off into the distance, Rick famously says, "Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship." The old orders of Casablanca have dissolved as Rick and Renault put an end to their flip-flopping moral codes. They abandon their self-corruption and walk off together into an unknown, but hopeful, future.

Casablanca certainly surprised me. I was emotionally invested in Rick and Ilsa's affair, the performances were exceptional across the board and the richly curated world made me believe the characters existed beyond the rolling credits. It is in many ways a simple story, but it has a lot of heart, showing that it is never too late to pick a side and stand up for what is right.

"Here's looking at you, Kid."

7/10

Yours sincerely,

The Film Buff