Michael Curtiz’s 1942 film, “Casablanca” is a classical love story depicting our world during the time it was filmed. Through the film, the director is expressing an idea that as our world evolves sociologically, nothing stays the same. “Casablanca’s” context shows a corrupted society where a second world war is going on and the event itself caused people from places such as Europe to find ways of escape. The setting of “Casablanca” is representing various aspects of the society such as the government, or groups of people who are looking at the Second World War politically and socially. Curtiz’s use of mise-en-scene is providing the audience a clear view of key things that we are able to utilize in speculating the sociological flaws of our
…show more content…
It “reflected the values of a war-time America united as it had never been in its history.” (Francisco) Throughout his film, Michael Curtiz used mise-en-scene in a creative way to portray the idea that in comparison to the 1940s, our society has sociological flaws. Even though, these flaws are not as major as they were back then. The film opens up with credits displayed on a political-like map of Africa. A narrator tells the audience introductory details relative to the map. The narration appears easy enough for someone to understand that in the story setting, the Second World War is approaching and many people from foreign countries used several means to travel to Casablanca in order to find a solution to the problem of escaping to America. “[M]any eyes in imprisoned Europe turned hopefully, or desperately … toward the freedom of the Americas.” (Curtiz, and Narrator in the film) After the opening, we have an observer-like frame of someone attempting to get away from the police, who seemed to think that the person running away is some suspect. There is emphasis on the next moment, as the police officer demands papers from the person and thoroughly studies them. Here, the audience sees a close up zooming in on the officer. The camera shows that the officer was holding the papers in an awkward way, whereas the angle of this particular shot seems to suggest that the officer can’t see the papers …show more content…
Throughout the Second World War, our society was underdeveloped and corrupted to a degree. Most of the time, countries such as Germany, France, and Europe were fighting with each other. Michael Curtiz’ film “Casablanca” depicted several events that happened throughout the war. In the beginning, a brief narration of the historical context was a good way to get the attention of the audience and slowly transition into the movie plot. As the story in “Casablanca” progresses, the audience learns about the characters, and through some of them, what our society was like. The overall picture indicated that the society needed improvement. In the present, our society has evolved into a much calmer one. Attributes of politics, propaganda, and social issues are present, though some of them are under control. The changes in our society have made our world into a better place, although there is always room for improvement. Today, “Casablanca,” remains as an educational resource relative to the Second World War, and a unique perspective of the evolution of our society as a
It “reflected the values of a war-time America united as it had never been in its history.” (Francisco) Throughout his film, Michael Curtiz used mise-en-scene in a creative way to portray the idea that in comparison to the 1940s, our society has sociological flaws. Even though, these flaws are not as major as they were back then. The film opens up with credits displayed on a political-like map of Africa. A narrator tells the audience introductory details relative to the map. The narration appears easy enough for someone to understand that in the story setting, the Second World War is approaching and many people from foreign countries used several means to travel to Casablanca in order to find a solution to the problem of escaping to America. “[M]any eyes in imprisoned Europe turned hopefully, or desperately … toward the freedom of the Americas.” (Curtiz, and Narrator in the film) After the opening, we have an observer-like frame of someone attempting to get away from the police, who seemed to think that the person running away is some suspect. There is emphasis on the next moment, as the police officer demands papers from the person and thoroughly studies them. Here, the audience sees a close up zooming in on the officer. The camera shows that the officer was holding the papers in an awkward way, whereas the angle of this particular shot seems to suggest that the officer can’t see the papers …show more content…
Throughout the Second World War, our society was underdeveloped and corrupted to a degree. Most of the time, countries such as Germany, France, and Europe were fighting with each other. Michael Curtiz’ film “Casablanca” depicted several events that happened throughout the war. In the beginning, a brief narration of the historical context was a good way to get the attention of the audience and slowly transition into the movie plot. As the story in “Casablanca” progresses, the audience learns about the characters, and through some of them, what our society was like. The overall picture indicated that the society needed improvement. In the present, our society has evolved into a much calmer one. Attributes of politics, propaganda, and social issues are present, though some of them are under control. The changes in our society have made our world into a better place, although there is always room for improvement. Today, “Casablanca,” remains as an educational resource relative to the Second World War, and a unique perspective of the evolution of our society as a