The Effectiveness of Lighting Used in Casablanca

Casablanca, as directed by Michael Curtiz, is a 1942 romantic drama heavily laced with noir influences. The film follows the ebbs and flows of Rick Blaine (Humphry Bogart) and Ilsa Lund’s (Ingrid Bergman) relationship backdropped by World War II-era Casablanca under French rule. Rick, a seemingly politically unaffected man, runs a Café in Casablanca and soon his morally ambiguous reserve beings to fade with the arrival of his ex-love Ilsa and her resistance leader husband Victor Lazlo (Paul Henreid) as they stop in Casablanca awaiting letters of transit to America. Soon, Rick must choose between a life with Ilsa and helping them escape to continue their fight against the Nazi Regime while he stays behind, subject to Casablanca’s political fate. Lighting is an important technique used in films to convey tone to the audience. Various lighting techniques are used to add depth and brightness to create an aesthetically pleasing film. Practical effects aren’t the only way lighting is used; it can also be used more dramatically to visually reflect the psychology of the characters. This was a well-known stylistic choice of cinematographer, Arthur Edeson, who brought his techniques to Casablanca. Lighting plays a crucial part in the iconography of Casablanca. Casablanca uses dramatic light and shadow play to visually highlight the character’s psychology and in turn contributed heavily to its persistence in film history.

While Rick wants to be seen in a politically great area the stark lighting betrays his desire by showing how at odds he is with himself and what is going on around him. The shadows used consistently throughout the film cast it on Rick display his anger and suspicion towards Ilsa and Victor. It exposes how close off she is and visually symbolizes his bitter and cynical outlook. The shadow of the film.

Discuss Lighting techniques used on Ilsa. gives an ambiance of nostalgia on melancholy underlined with intense romance. Musa is often portrayed wearing white and bathed in light. she is the light of this film.

Much of the film occur occurs during night. This is a natural backdrop to exemplify the various corrupt deals and meetings held in the world of Casablanca. Often ricks cafe a dim and smoky place is at the core of these often-immoral secrets and desires. Even so the cafe provides a sort of escape from the war-weary world. the world outside the cafe is cloaked in shadow but is occasionally interrupted by the military light polices watch light. This gives the movie of brings the movie back to its noir foundation, visually symbolizing the people’s fear and despair in the wake of the looming Nazi regime. Daytime in Casablanca, however, is a stark contrast. The glaringly bright and crisp sunlight is a different world from Casablanca’s nightlife. The borderline oversaturation of light exemplifies how exposed the people of Casa Blanca feel too The Nazis Italians and Vichy French. It gives the audience a feel of how vulnerable and exposed the people of the time would feel in an increasingly fascist world. It makes us crave the safety found in the shadow world of the night. While the day and night in Casablanca have negative connotations, either way, the flashbacks to Paris are another story. Regardless of the time of day or night The Paris flashback scenes are infinitely more welcoming. The use of soft and warm light reflects how at home rick and Ilsa feel with each other and how safe they feel they are when they’re together despite the threat of Nazi occupying France. The audience made recognize the soft and warm lighting is reminiscent of that used on Elsa back in present-day Casa Blanca. This is a deliberate technique used to show the audience how despite the fear and uncertain future of the world I also represent a bright spot in that world to Rick when he sees her he forgets the political happenings of now, and instead sees the romantic days of Paris then.