France is occupied by Nazi Germany in May 1940. Consequently, people seeking to flee Nazism move to other French-occupied territories in Africa, such as western Morocco. However, even there it is not easy to escape persecution, thanks to the collaboration of corrupt authorities with the Gestapo. Escaping from there becomes a task as crucial as impossible.
And, in the midst of such a hurricane, a complicated and turbulent romance. A hunted resistance hero and her wife need the help of her former love in order to escape German troops. A fascinating combination that has resulted in one of the most acclaimed films in history, which can be enjoyed through HBO Max as well as Movistar+. It is, of course, ‘Casablanca’.
play it again
The essential classic that many times you will have been told that you have to see it, yes or yes, once in your life. But, in this case, there is no recommendation that you will later appreciate more. Their combination of submerged intrigue and complex romance They make it utterly fascinating, even if it’s executed with enough cleanliness and elegance that it’s still tremendously accessible, which is why it’s recommended to you from your aunt to reviews like this.
The craftsman Michael Curtiz delivers an exquisite piece of goldsmithing that does not waste any of the things he has in hand. His recreation of Morocco, even anchored by prevailing prejudices at the time, is carefully taken to immediately transport you to the world in which the characters inhabit without much effort. The script clearly defines the agents involved, while the management ensures that there is communication through both words and silences that speak at full volume.
The actors are also one of the keys that makes you instantly fall in love with the film. Humphrey Bogart fully became a star with a less conventional leading role that scared him, and he is in charge of magnifying it with each decision made. His chemistry with another splendid Ingrid Bergman ends up selling the romantic part of the story. A fleeting but remarkable Peter Lorre is also worth mentioning.
‘Casablanca’: love in troubled times
The dramatic film about Nazism and the romantic film that come together here work wonderfully in their mix, since Curtiz knows how to put them in opposition so that they end up intertwined. The conflict between full love and fighting for a greater cause it’s extremely powerful how he handles it through a brilliant tone that exudes incredible detail.
The direction of expressionist details, the outstanding music by Max Steiner or the incredible handling of ambiguity are aspects that keep ‘Casablanca’ as a very alive movie. One that you can recover over the years and that you love more and more as you get to know it more deeply. You can practically fall in love with her as you can fall in love with a person. She has that magical quality.