Realism is depicted in Casablanca through it’s themes of love and war. The romance between Rick and Ilsa is portrayed as real and powerful, while the second World War directly impacts the plot (emphasised by the use of authentic newsreel footage of Nazi soldiers in Paris).

In terms of tone, Casablanca is a dramatic and romantic film, retaining the idea of the ongoing war that was happening at the time while also allowing audiences to escape their real lives.

The film adopts a visual style of ‘Film Noir’, which can be seen through the low-key lighting, the darker tone and plot compared to other films released at the time, and the use of flashbacks to before the war.