Defining Social and Political Movements in Casablanca - Movie Review Example

Defining Social and Political Movements in Casablanca Introduction The concept of entertainment and history are known to intertwine to create a specific viewpoint of an ideal which is occurring. When looking at various movies, there is an undertone of the historical climate of a given time frame, while focusing on the main characters and plot of a given situation with the political and social events occurring around the specific changes in a given place. History as portrayed in the movie, Casablanca uses history through the characters and shows a microcosm of the difficulties which were arising during this time. The complexities of the film then lead to an understanding of the historical, political and social responses that were a part of World War II as well as what the stigma was surrounding the political events during this time frame. In the movie, Casablanca, there is an understanding of how the concepts of entertainment become secondary to depicting the events of World War II. The film is set to Casablanca, a city in Morocco during 1941, the end of World War II. The film was released in 1943, which gives a stronger impact because of the direct influence of the time frame for the release. The plot depicts a mixture of individuals that are involved in different parts of this time period from a historical viewpoint. The social mixture includes immigrants from various countries, political leaders and Nazi officials and refugees from the war. The main character depicts an American businessman in a different country and the political struggles of Ilsa through the war. While the characters are fictional, both the main and secondary characters are defined as a specific movement that was prevalent in 1941. The message that the film maker tries to convey by using these different scenes is based on the complexity of the war and what the political and social reactions were towards World War II. Examples of the War and Social Reactions The most important concept that is associated with Casablanca is based on the reactions which occur from the war and how this causes several individuals to respond in a different manner. The main social movement was one which was defined by the desire to have freedom. The main characters as well as the secondary individuals in the film are all define as trying to find a sense of liberty and to come out of the struggles of the war. The social reactions are influenced directly by the forces in politics that are trying to confine those in the war through concentration camps, dividing social groups and leading several into the military. Each of these reactions causes several to rebel and to try to find a sense of freedom. In some instances, this is because of the opposing problem, which may lead to the harshness of war, such as the concentration camps. In others, this creates an attraction toward finding and acting with a new sense of freedom (Polletta, 7). The concept of this is one which is seen through the different characters in the movie. The first is through the character of Rick, who was involved politically in fighting wars, such as offering the Ethiopians guns during the 1935 Italian invasion. The beliefs which Rick have show that he is against the concepts of war and which creates an understanding that war creates conflict, death and the loss of freedom. His current disillusionment is one which is based on trying to avoid wars and to leave politics, specifically to keep a sense of freedom. Running the night club in Casablanca as well as his approach to causing Ilsa to leave at the end of the movie show his disillusionment and cynicism in the war as well as his belief in how staying in politically afflicted situations leads to the loss of life. Social Movements toward the War While there is a specific set of social movements that are shown against the war, there are also other oppositions that show individuals who support the war for different sociological reasons. The identity of those who aren’t opposed to the war is based on different categories of the role in which one plays while fighting. Many attach their identity to a political side, nationalist identity or as an individual who has been through the war. These different social concepts are used to change the perspective of how individuals respond during a given time frame and in response to given conditions. The use of different social identities relates to soldiers, leaders and other political affiliations that one creates in a war time situation, specifically so one can play a part in how history is shaped and what occurs in a given time frame (Tilly, 1). Casablanca shows this specific perspective through the secondary characters that represent a different part of the war and the identity which is associated with this. Victor Lawzlow is an example of one side of World War II, specifically because he is a Czech resistance leader who escaped from a Nazi concentration camp. He works as a microcosm of those who were opposed to the politics of the war within their own country and also defines the concepts that are associated with this. His identity is based on opposition to the Nazis and a viewpoint which shows that the concentration camps were not only linked to Jews, but also to others who were against the new regime. The identity which is created is one which shows both the Nazi soldiers as well as those who actively created a rebellion against this and formed a sense of identity through this belief. Another character which shows the specific angles of identity among characters is through the role of Louis acting as a caricature for Vichy France. Louis carries through with his daily duties as a police officer, which portrays a sense of loyalty to his country and what is occurring. However, throughout the movie, he also shows a sense of cynicism and rebellion against Vichy France and the way in which it is associated with Germany. The political statement made through the identity of Louis is one which is based on a sense of rebellion and disagreement with the war and political parties; however, there isn’t the ability to create a difference with this and to rebel completely, specifically because of the position the character is in. The identity is one which shows an aspect of the social movements that occurred during World War II. The concept of identity is not only represented by characters, but also through the different actions which are taken. The director shows how identity is linked to different nations and the role in which they decided to take in the political regime. France is the defining area which is known for having a neutral identity in the war. The concept is presented by the director as one which creates a sense of identity toward the French by not being involved in the war. Rick and Ilsa escape to Paris to get away from the war and continuously show a higher sense of freedom when in France. Other associations come when the France national anthem is played at the club, as requested by the German officers, specifically which shows how the national identity also forms because of the political neutrality which is taken. Defining History through Fiction The social movements and concept of identity intertwine with the understanding of the war not only through the microcosms of identity. There is also an understanding of what historical and political movements were taking place at this time, specifically through the way in which Casablanca uses different settings and situations that are afflicted by the war. The viewpoint that is seen is based on the political movement of the Nazis. The depiction of the war which shows the historical viewpoint comes from the opposition toward the war through other countries, such as the Czech Republic. It also shows how some areas, such as America and France, were hesitant to become involved because of the complexities of the politics and the war. The desire to stop the Nazis, as opposed to having a sense of happiness, becomes the main historical interest, specifically which shows the sociological and political ties to the war (Irwin, 179). The depiction of the war and the opposing sides through Casablanca becomes the main historical event, which also relates to how the conflict became a specific viewpoint in society. At the end of the movie, Rick walks away to take his place in the destruction of the Nazis with the statement, “this looks like the beginning of a beautiful friendship” (Curtiz, 1). This is important as it shows how the continuous opposition of other European nations has led to the continuous conflicts of the war. The ending part becomes representative of the American agreement to join the war and to begin to defeat the Nazis. The historical understanding which is linked to this then shows the two opposing sides in the war as well as the attitudes which were surrounding this. The attitudes are based on both the political and the social differences that occurred during World War II. There is also an understanding through each of the characters representing an identity of the nation, of what the attitudes were before the development of the war both socially and through the concept of political affiliations. Each of the characters becomes a metaphor of the different conflicts within each nation as well as the political attitudes which are surrounding this. Because of this, each of the characters reacts to the main conflict of war in a different way. The choices are limited by the association with the country as well as understanding the political and social tensions which are surrounding the country. Limitations in the Representation of History The representation of history depicted by each of the characters is limited by the understanding of the director and the belief in entertainment that was combined with the historical actions which were taken. While the main concept is one which is based on the realities of the war, there are also limitations in how this is presented, specifically because of the propaganda and entertainment which is a part of the war. When this movie was released, it was right after the war had been won by America, in 1943. Those who were interested in the war were also celebrating patriotism and the victory of defeating the Nazis from the problems that were within the war. The more important depiction within the film is not only based on the political associations with the war. There is also a specific viewpoint which is used by the director that appeals to the American audience and the winning of the war which took place. It can then be seen that the entertainment which factors into Casablanca shows a different social movement, which was celebrating the victories of the war (Sennett, 2). There are several ways in which the movie of Casablanca shows limitations in depicting the entire historical events of World War II and instead caters to both entertainment and the attitudes of the audience. Rick is seen as the hero in the film, specifically because of the attitude in which he takes as well as his desire to offer freedom, democracy and assistance at the end of the film. While he doesn’t claim a political side, his different moves throughout the movie show that this is the most important component and attitude. However, there are other attitudes that convey a different option and which provide a different level of insight to the movie. This is combined with the romantic undertone between Ilsa and Rick, which is done specifically for entertainment and to lead away from the overall political undertones of the film. Using these different portrayals then creates a specific response from the audience of the movie. Conclusion The different associations that are a part of Casablanca are representative of the political conflicts of World War II. Each of the characters creates an identity that relates to the social movements of the time as well as the national identity that was pertinent for defeating the Nazis. More important, there are elements and undertones which show the political complexity of the movie. The specific perspectives which are a part of the film are combined with a sense of entertainment as well as an understanding of how the audience will respond to the movie, specifically because of the defeat of World War II by the Americans. The different complexities of social and political history during World War II then show several dimensions that are associated with the war, historical components and the political interchanges and complexities that were happening during this time frame. Works Cited Curtiz, Michael. (dir). Casablanca. Warner Brothers: California, 1942. Irwin, Jones. War and Virtual War: The Challenges to Communities. Rodopi: New York, 2004. Polletta, Francesca. Freedom is an endless Meeting: Democracy in American Social Movements. University of Chicago Press: Chicago, 2002. Sennett, Alan. “Play It Again, Uncle Sam: Casablanca and US Foreign Policy.” Journal of Popular Film and Television 37 (1), 2009. Tilly, Charles. “Citizenship, Identity and Social History.” International Review of social History (40), 1995. Read More