The Philosophy of Casablanca

Michael Curtiz’s 1942 film Casablanca is about a man whose philosophical outlook has become jaded. Humphrey Bogart plays Rick, a nightclub owner with a mysterious past. The backdrop is Casablanca, a city which is the debarkation point from which people from all over the world are hoping to escape the Nazi onslaught. Tension is thick at the nightclub, Rick’s Café American, as people from diverse backgrounds clash in an attempt to make sense out of the insanity of war. Amidst this confusion, the film centers on Rick, whose philosophy seems to be “I stick my neck out for no one”. As the film opens Rick is visited by a seedy character named Ugarte, who asks Rick to hide some valuable documents for him. The authorities arrive to arrest Ugarte who runs to Rick asking for help, Rick refuses. While hiding the documents had been beneficial to Rick, helping Ugarte would have only put him at risk. This is reminiscent of philosopher Immanuel Kant’s view that knowledge comes from one’s senses and understanding. Rick’s universe is centered on himself; he views outside people and events only as they affect him.
While at first glance Rick appears to be an extremely narcissistic individual, certain statements reveal that this may simply be a defensive facade. Ferrari, a wealthy businessman offers to buy Rick’s nightclub, Rick refuses. Then, referring to the piano player, Ferrari asks, “How much do you want for Sam?” Rick dismisses him by saying, "I don't buy or sell human beings". This exchange reveals a moral code which suggests that Rick, while self-centered, is not entirely without principles.
Enter the woman who broke Rick’s heart, Ilsa Lund. From a philosophical standpoint, Ilsa represents the experiences of Rick’s past, which have shaped his current character. It may be helpful to look at the relationship between Rick and Ilsa through the lens of John Locke’s An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. In this essay Locke discusses the properties of reality, separating truth from perception. Locke claims that there are real, tangible truths, but that an effort to describe these truths from an individual perspective is futile. Rick believes that Ilsa callously broke off their relationship years earlier, but this was far from the truth. Ilsa’s husband who had been reported dead, returned, making it impossible for her to stay with Rick. Believing that Ilsa no longer loved him, Rick adopted a hard exterior and a pessimistic worldview. Obviously Rick’s reaction was based on his limited senses and understanding, which highlights the shortcoming of the previously mentioned Kantian philosophy.
Prior to learning Ilsa’s side of the story, Rick’s behavior towards her reflects only his own feelings, it is clear that he believes himself to be the victim. Her husband, Victor turns out to be an important freedom fighter who is seeking to escape with her to America. The documents which Rick acquired at the beginning of the film are essential to the success of Ilsa and Victor’s plan. Although helping Victor would save many lives and thwart evil Nazi schemes, Rick doesn’t want to help the woman who left him or the man she is now with. It is at this crucial point in the film when Ilsa is finally able to explain why she had to leave. In Rick’s mind, a significant transformation takes place, no longer is he looking at the world simply from his own perspective. As he gives Ilsa the documents, Rick says, “I’m no good at being noble, but it doesn’t take much to see that the problems of three little people don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world”. In the end Rick sends Ilsa off with Victor, risking his own safety in the process. Apparently Rick is willing to stick his neck out for others, which is quite uplifting, because who wants to see a movie about a guy who only cares for himself?