Isolationism In Casablanca

1144 Words3 Pages

The Michael Curtiz’s 1942 film Casablanca depicts Richard Blaine as an isolated individual obsessed with his memories of his former love. He begins to challenge his own policy of isolationism with the return of his love, Ilsa, and the spread of Nazism; his conflict with himself over his ideals forces him to consider the future of others and helps him overcome his past. Throughout the film, Richard begins to internally battle himself to overcome his own differences and help not only himself, but others for his own freedom.
Richard Blaine’s past would have anyone sympathize with him. Richard experienced a loss of trust in love when he departed Paris to flee from the war. Reoccurring flashbacks begin to happen with the return of his former love. …show more content…

He has shut out anyone that tries to be close to him, except for his staff, and Sam, he refuses to sit and drink with customers, potentially fearing the unknown journey he might have with any new woman. In the opening shot of the café, when the camera makes a long shot of the entire setting, he isn’t introduced until after everyone else. The pan up shot to Richard’s face offers viewers a sense of suspense, but are ultimately let down. Viewers see him sitting alone, playing chess and drinking in the corner, observing everyone else. He doesn’t speak to anyone first, his employees approach him and then he talks. His attitude about being an owner of a business is very atypical of other owners. Normally, we as viewers would see the owner approaching customers, being friendly and inviting. Richard, however, nearly refuses to do so. This by chance must do with his internal fear of being heartbroken again if he invites anyone into his life. His internal fear drives him to be isolate towards others. The way Richard composes himself begins to shift into a total opposite however subtle, his presentation as well as the lighting shift the direction of the mood into something more

Open Document