Intro –

Throughout Casablanca, Aesthetics can shown through the elements of Realism, Tone and Visual Style. Here I will show examples of each and what fits in with them.

Realism –

Realism is shown to mixed with elements of love and and the reality of war. In Casablanca, this is used to create that dramatic storyline of a love not meant to be due to the side-lined threat of the Nazis. With the focus being heavily on Rick and Ilsa’s love narrative, the terrors of the war are side-lined yet still depicted to current with, Parises ‘city of love’ being taken by the Nazis in real news footage. It can be said this was the creative intent as to free themselves from the reality of war movie-goers would attend films such as Casablanca to immerse themselves in an artificial reality.

Tone –

Tone in Casablanca, uses suspense to create that theme of drama. With the threat of being taken away by the Nazis if they showed the slightest involvement to the tickets to Lisbon, this creates the element of suspense as it is unknown if Rick, or any other of the protagonists will be found out.

Additionally with the narrative of Lazlo being a member of the resistance, this shows suspense as through the earlier scene of a resistance member being shot in broad daylight, the audience fears the same will happen to him.

Visual Style (Film Noir) –

Visual motifs in Casablanca can be seen with the reoccurrence of German uniforms. This obvious motif signifies that danger and threat is near as in comparison to reality it is generally known they are the enemy. Sound motifs can be heard when Ilsa is revealed to Rick, with a signifying sound, different to the previous piano song, this connotes that there is something significant about this person to Rick.