Tag Archives: movement

Casablanca: Refuge of the Refugees

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I chose this scene to blog about because I found that it fully encompassed the themes of refugees and movement within the film of Casablanca. With the help of narration, this clip shows the journey many Jewish Europeans had to take in hopes of fleeing Nazi-occupied countries they had previously called home. The background music and tone of the narrator expresses a sense of seriousness and urgency. I found the use of the map very interesting, especially how they showed the very path that many of the refugees fleeing Europe took. The director used these technical film elements to present themes of both risk and hope. I was completely unaware that Northern Africa became a place of transit for Jewish refugees during World War 2 so it was interesting new perspective to gain. The theory of liminality came to mind when watching this film because the refugees have traveled from far and wide, no longer in their country of origin, to Casablanca. Casablanca is portrayed as this waiting station, a purgatory if you will, in which people are waiting to receive the necessary paperwork to flee to the Americas. The narrator foreshadows this and the actual time in which people ended up waiting there in the clip I chose when he said “The others would wait in Casablanca where they would wait, and wait, and wait….”.

Are There Any Turns Left?

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In this clip, from the 2019 film Transit, we see Georg, a refugee from an unknown conflict (presumably a modern-set WWII), fleeing from a police presence. This scene is relatively early on in the film, and does a great job of helping the viewer realize the imminent danger that is felt by, not only Georg, but all the refugees in the film. We even get to see many other refugees who were not as fortunate lined up against the wall and left to the whims of their captors. After temporarily subduing the first officer, Georg makes a run through streets and alleyways in a desperate attempt to escape. During this chase his position is revealed temporarily by a random citizen who knows nothing of his intentions or wrongdoings, and simply wants to aid authority blindly. This chase is short-lived, since Georg is able to find a small corner and gain temporary safety. This chase scene is beautifully shot, and has many angles which make the viewer feel as though they themselves are peaking out from a corner and watching the chase as a hiding refugee. I think this effect helps establish a more personal connection with Georg, and a greater sense of urgency in this exhilarating scene. This clip is important because it shows just how dangerous the situation Georg and the other refugees are in, and how essential movement is throughout the course of the film. At no point can anyone become complacent or comfortable with their surroundings, and the threat of capture is ever-present.