Cole, Casablanca

In Casablanca, the ideology of the movie proves to be deeper than just a typical love story, as many would argue. Set during World War II, the political ideology could only do so much to hide under the overwhelming love story. Before we know about Ilsa, we are introduced to Rick and Renault. These opposing characters dress in contrasting colors, noting their opposing ‘sides’ in the war. Clothed in white at first, and later darker colors, we are led to believe that Rick’s stance in the war is undecided. His nonchalant demeanor and selfish attitude give the appearance of self-imposed power, which we can trace in his relationship with Renault. Rick, being originally from New York, represents what American audiences of that time, 1942, wanted to see. In the end, Rick and Renault trump the German forces invading Casablanca, and allow their friends to escape to America. These dramatic changes from each character appeal to the target audience because of their nationalistic behaviors, especially during that uncertain time in history. The picture above, in Rick’s bar, depicts Rick as a source of power, which will prove to be true at the end of the movie. The four characters are all wearing light colors, reinforcing the idea that they are the ‘good’ in this ideology of good vs. evil. In this scene we see Renault in white as well, as opposed to his usual dark attire, foreshadowing his ultimate rebellion toward the German forces. The proximity of the characters to one another also gives the audience the idea that neither Rick nor Renault know which side they are on. The introduction of Ilsa further confuses Rick as to how involved he would like to be in the chaos of the war, as we can see from the picture, he only has eyes for her. Overall, the picture exudes confusion for all parties, however the lighting suggests that in the end, each party’s confusion will be settled.