Casablanca is a classic film released in 1942 at the start of World War II and went on to become a large successus. Its remembered as being a romance drama war film. But why is this? Before discussing what genre umbrella Casablanca falls into, one must comprehend what a genre is, and the classifications of the different genres. Is the genre of a film based the subject matter and content or is it based on the effect it has on the audience? A film genre is a film category. It is recognized as a means to categorize a medium of art. A genre is created when over a period of time a sufficient number of films is created and can be identified as such. Filmmakers are able to take advantage of genre because they can use it for replication and categorization
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The main plot focus in this genre is the romantic love story between the characters or the search and revival of love. In their journey, lovers often face obstacle that keep them from being together and threaten to destroy their union. Similar to everyday life, tensions often arise between loved ones in the plot of the story. Ilsa enters Rick’s bar with her husband Victor Laszlo, and upon her request, Sam begins to plays “As Time Goes By”. When Rick hears the same song later that evening, he allows himself to reminisce on the past when the audience was able to see a romantic relationship between Rick and Ilsa. In the flashback, we see a happier, less drained Rick with Ilsa at his side. Rick and Ilsa are seen spending time together; however, while there is deep love between them, neither of them care to share details about their past. When they find out the German army is nearing Paris, Rick knows he must leave. Believing in the powerful love between him and Ilsa, Rick expects Ilsa to meet him at the train station; he is hurt when he receives a note saying she can never see him again. The protagonist is unable to be with his true love. Rick finds out from Ilsa that she was married to Victor the whole time and found out he was still alive before she could go with Rick on the train. When Ilsa goes to beg Rick for the …show more content…
Similar to real life melodramas tells stories of people in a powerful or powerless position put up against an immovable social structure. This structure creates a powerful barrier that the protagonist must surpass. This in part makes it vital for the melodrama to be modern or close to its current time period so that the audience is able to relate it to their lives. “In the melodrama, the main character challenges the power structure, but in the end becomes its tragic victim despite a heroic effort” (Rush 130). “Melodrama usually ends in the tragedy of the thwarted ambition of the central character” (Rush 140). Rick wants to be with his true love Ilsa, so he challenges the structure which is Ilsa’s marriage to Victor and their environment. Yet in doing this her realizes what is best and what has to be done. In the end his heroic effort still led him to not being able to fulfil his wish. The dramatic and emotional scene where the whole bar is singing “La Marseillaise,” the French national anthem adds to the genres heighten emotion and narrative style. Throughout the plot, the characters are experiencing real life problems with obstacles that keep the situation from turning out happily ever after paralleling to real life. Because it is symbolizing real life and real time, the whole movie only spans over a couple of
The main plot focus in this genre is the romantic love story between the characters or the search and revival of love. In their journey, lovers often face obstacle that keep them from being together and threaten to destroy their union. Similar to everyday life, tensions often arise between loved ones in the plot of the story. Ilsa enters Rick’s bar with her husband Victor Laszlo, and upon her request, Sam begins to plays “As Time Goes By”. When Rick hears the same song later that evening, he allows himself to reminisce on the past when the audience was able to see a romantic relationship between Rick and Ilsa. In the flashback, we see a happier, less drained Rick with Ilsa at his side. Rick and Ilsa are seen spending time together; however, while there is deep love between them, neither of them care to share details about their past. When they find out the German army is nearing Paris, Rick knows he must leave. Believing in the powerful love between him and Ilsa, Rick expects Ilsa to meet him at the train station; he is hurt when he receives a note saying she can never see him again. The protagonist is unable to be with his true love. Rick finds out from Ilsa that she was married to Victor the whole time and found out he was still alive before she could go with Rick on the train. When Ilsa goes to beg Rick for the …show more content…
Similar to real life melodramas tells stories of people in a powerful or powerless position put up against an immovable social structure. This structure creates a powerful barrier that the protagonist must surpass. This in part makes it vital for the melodrama to be modern or close to its current time period so that the audience is able to relate it to their lives. “In the melodrama, the main character challenges the power structure, but in the end becomes its tragic victim despite a heroic effort” (Rush 130). “Melodrama usually ends in the tragedy of the thwarted ambition of the central character” (Rush 140). Rick wants to be with his true love Ilsa, so he challenges the structure which is Ilsa’s marriage to Victor and their environment. Yet in doing this her realizes what is best and what has to be done. In the end his heroic effort still led him to not being able to fulfil his wish. The dramatic and emotional scene where the whole bar is singing “La Marseillaise,” the French national anthem adds to the genres heighten emotion and narrative style. Throughout the plot, the characters are experiencing real life problems with obstacles that keep the situation from turning out happily ever after paralleling to real life. Because it is symbolizing real life and real time, the whole movie only spans over a couple of