Casablanca Review

If you were interested in reading this article, it is most likely due to one of these two reasons: you have heard a lot about this film but you don't know if it will interest you, or you are a faithful connoisseur of Michael Curtiz's work and want to browse a little. Whatever the answer, we will tell you everything you want to know in this Casablanca ( 1942) Retro Review . Don't worry, this review is spoiler -free in case you haven't seen the film.

A war drama but romantic

Based on the play Everybody Comes to Rick's by Murray Burnett and Joan Alison, the acclaimed cult film portrays a romantic drama set in World War II. The story takes place in Casablanca, a Moroccan city that is under the Vichy regime.

Mainly, the plot focuses on the debate between love and virtue that is presented to our protagonist, Rick Blaine. Rick meets Ilsa Lund, a woman he had an affair with some time ago, and now he must choose between helping his ex-partner or not . Ilsa seeks to escape from Casablanca with her husband, one of the leaders of the resistance, so that he can continue his fight against the Nazis.

The birth of a cult movie

It is no secret that Casablanca is currently valued as a considerably important film in cinematographic history. It was nominated for 8 Oscars in 1943, of which it won three awards: Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director and Best Picture. Likewise, the film was registered in the National Film Registry, a ranking that selects the best films in history. However, it may be interesting to ask ourselves why.

Casablanca is likely to find itself on more "great films of all time" lists than any other title, even more so than Citizen Kane because its appeal is so broad; while Citizen Kane is great, Casablanca is adorable.

Roger Ebert, internationally known film critic

The key to success

Casablanca has several elements that make it a very engaging movie. Within the elaboration of the script there are several resources or plot devices that make the story naturally mysterious. These resources are popularly used today; For example, we have the case of a real MacGuffin : the letters of free transit (we will say no more to keep this review without spoilers ).

On the one hand, we have the interesting war conflict that is sustained by a delicate and complex historical moment. On the other hand, we get into the lonely feeling of Rick Blaine , who is surrounded by old memories and multiple events that take place in his establishment waiting to be served.

What makes Casablanca a great film is mostly because it is a great adapted screenplay , although Umberto Eco disagreed with this. The renowned Italian writer went so far as to declare that said film seemed very mediocre to him, arguing that the changes in the characters were inconsistent. Although he also concludes that these inconsistencies allow the use of a great variety of archetypes , which were very much enjoyed in the cinema of that time.

It is this inconsistency that makes the film so accepted, since it allows for the inclusion of a long series of archetypes: unhappy love, flight, the rite of passage, waiting, desire, the triumph of purity, the faithful servant , the love triangle, beauty and the beast, the enigmatic woman, the ambiguous adventurer and the redeemed drunk.

Umberto Eco

The legacy of Casablanca

The film focuses on the concept of sacrifice throughout its plot from different scenarios. This popular film marked a before and after in cinematographic history, reverberating to the present day in the form of styles, influences and film resources.