Relationships, And Sacrifice In The Film, Casablanca By Michael Curtis

Casablanca (1942), movie directed by Michael Curtis, is about love, past-relationships, and sacrifice in World War II. During World War II, many people wanted to leave Casablanca to America, to escape the Germans. However, obtaining the visas was never easy. People had to ask for help from criminals and their methods to get what they wanted. Rick owned a nightclub in Casablanca called Rick’s Café Americain. In Rick’s nightclub, all the illegal business deals were worked up. The protagonists, Rick and Ilsa, their relationship and troubles, are the main focus of the movie. Rick and Ilsa have tried to run from their past, only to have it return in the most inopportune times. Before Ilsa met Rick, she receives news that her husband, Lazlo, is dead. Rick and Ilsa meet in Paris and fall in love, barring any talk about the past: Rick asks, “Who are you really and what were you before? What did you do and what did you think?” and Ilsa answers, “We said no questions." (Casablanca). When the Germans get to Paris, they plan to leave. However, Ilsa acquires news that Lazlo is alive and coming to Paris. The day

Rick knows the type of business that goes on, but does nothing to stop it. Ugarte, a man known for getting people their visas, tells Rick to take the two visas he had for a couple that was coming to obtain them. How could Rick have known his past would stumble to his door? Lazlo and Ilsa are Ugarte’s clients for the visas. Lazlo is a Czech nationalist writer and an anti-Nazi; he needs the visas to escape the Germans and keep Ilsa safe. Lazlo feels strongly for his cause: “If we stop breathing, we'll die. If we stop fighting our enemies, the world will die.” (Casablanca). Ilsa and Rick see each other when the song “As Time Goes By” is playing, a song they used to listen in Paris. Even though Rick and Ilsa did not plan or want to see each other again, fate brought them