Casablanca is one of my favourite films. Its scope is simply breathtaking and it plays like an incredible melodrama, coming across like an epic movie without the trappings of epic movies. The film is all about sacrifices and about the good that human beings can do. It is not a sappy love story, although some of the notions in the film are rather romantic. It is perfect for Valentine’s Day and, on the other hand, it is not. There is much about Casablanca that focuses in on the romance of Rick and Ilsa, but those things are in the past as we experience them and Casablanca is about what can be done for the future. It is about where Rick and Ilsa go next, which is what makes the film so unique and so remarkably powerful. Casablanca is not about immediate romance, but about the effects of past romance and how feeling love for someone causes us to act.
Casablanca is one of the move beloved movies of all time. It is on more “greatest films of all time” lists than any other film, possibly even Citizen Kane. While there are some potential issues within the film, such as some poor special effects and some average performances (mainly Henreid’s Victor Laszlo), the film overall is one of few that enter the pantheon of unforgettable cinema unscathed. It is a film of noble character and breadth, a stunning film based on the romantic gestures of Bogart’s Rick and Bergman’s Ilsa. That their romantic gestures are not purely built on self-seeking notions towards romantic love for one another is the most telling notion in Casablanca and belies its true sacrificial nature. It is a classic film to be experienced again and again, that is for certain. It is an extraordinary tale with remarkable characters, serving as a potent reminder of the righteousness of the human condition in the face of evil.
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