Casablanca - Here's looking at you kid

Casablanca is a romantic movie set during wartime. In 1942, countries around the globe are at war and many people try to flee to America, which is a neutral country and not a major battleground during the war. Casablanca becomes a popular transit point for those people. However, staying in Casablanca does not automatically grant people the right to get on the flight to America. They need permit, or the so-called Letters of transit.

Rick owns a club in Casablanca and tries to remain neutral in politics. Letters of transit are highly sought after documents for boarding planes to America. Ugarte has two of these letters and plans to sell them to Victor, a fugitive leader. However, Ugarte is arrested and dies shortly after. Victor visits the club with his wife, Ilsa, looking for the letters he needs. When he learns that Ugarte is dead, Victor has to come up with another plan. Ilsa recognizes the pianist as someone she knew and later learns that the club is owned by Rick. She asks the pianist to play ‘As Time Goes By’, which makes Rick furious. However, he is more shocked when he sees Ilsa.

Rick and Ilsa have a history. They fell in love in Paris, where they had a brief but intense love affair. Rick dated Ilsa for like 10 days in Paris. As the Germans were about to march into Paris, Rick wanted to leave with her. Ilsa said she would meet him at the train station but never showed up, leaving only a note in her room. Disheartened, Rick left the town with the pianist, Sam.

Without Ugarte, Victor searches for someone else who can sell him the letters. Another person offers to sell him one letter on the condition that it cannot be used by Victor, who is the most targeted person. Victor wants Ilsa to take the letter and leave for America, but Ilsa refuses to leave without him. Meanwhile, a group of French patrons start singing the French anthem at the club, which upsets a German major and the club is ordered to be closed.

Ilsa confronts Rick at the club and reveals that she was married to Victor before she met Rick in Paris. She thought Victor was dead and began an affair with Rick while alone in Paris. The day before the train was to depart, Ilsa learned that Victor might still be alive and went to find him instead. Rick eventually agrees to help. Rick also reaches out to Renault, the police, promising to help frame Victor for the possession of the letters. However, his plan is just a ruse to force Renault to assist in their escape.

Casablanca is a timeless masterpiece that has stood the test of time. War does not always tear people apart; sometimes, it unites them. Rick's willingness to sacrifice his personal interest for the greater good is a perfect example, where he helps Ilsa and Victor escape even though he knows that it will mean losing her. It is hard to be rational when it comes to love.