opening scene (casablanca)

Question 1

what is the opening scene

Answer 1

a key moment that brilliantly introduced many aspects of the cultural context of the film

Question 2

the revolving globe illustrates what

Answer 2

the Nazis domination over Europe

Question 3

the real footage of refugees underlined what

Answer 3

the Nazis brutality and crushing of the resistance

Question 4

what does the voice over contrast

Answer 4

voice over contrasts the desperation of ‘imprisoned Europe’ to the ‘hope and freedom of America’

Question 5

what does the narrator elaborate on

Answer 5

•the refugees need for money to escape to the new world
•the english couple who are pickpocketed represent the refugees who have been robbed of their money

Question 6

what does the police whistle, blaring sirens and round up of ‘usual suspects’ introduce

Answer 6

•the collaborative French government obeying the might of the Nazis
•the gunning down of the French resistance fighter under the poster of Petain emphasize the brutality the Nazis used to put down resistance to power

Question 7

what does the pickpocket inform the english couple of

Answer 7

•that amongst those arrested there will be ‘of course a young beautiful women for Captain Renault’, indicating the abuse of power and role of women as possessions