Don’t you just hate a romance? I do.
Modern romances feel so boring and unrealistic. They usually make me want to hurl. But chuck me right into the middle of this whirlwind noir-romance drama and suddenly I’m hooked.
The over-the-top dramatics, the longing looks, the kind of emotional intensity that would be wildly concerning in real life… it all tickles me in exactly the right way.
Lesser actors might have played Rick as openly heartbroken from the start, but Bogart wisely keeps him guarded. Like a teenager insisting they’re not bothered while very clearly being bothered, he spends most of the runtime pretending he couldn’t care less.
This restraint is exactly what makes this romance work. Rick and Ilsa simply can't choose each other. Their love story isn’t built around misunderstandings or conveniently bad timing. It’s built around sacrifice. Every scene between them carries weight because you know someone is going to lose, no matter what choice is made. Deliciously painful. Horrible for them, excellent for me.
What really surprised me is how timeless Casablanca feels. Rick’s dilemma may be rooted in wartime politics, but the question itself never ages: do you look after yourself, or do you sacrifice something for a greater cause?
And then... the glorious tension of it all. The waiting, hoping, wondering who will do the right thing. Or will Captain Renault simply throw a spanner in the works at the very last minute? Absolutely agonising, edge-of-your-seat tension. My favourite kind of drama.
Lest we forget the soundtrack - chef’s kiss, gorgeous! Maybe it’s my millennial longing for a simpler time, but the music is woven through the film perfectly. Never distracting, never overdone, it just pulls you deeper into the romance, those dreamy Paris flashbacks with enough wistful gazing to make a modern rom-com blush. You don’t just watch Rick and Ilsa remember their love story; you’re dragged unwillingly back to your own first heartbreak.
So I’ll eat my hat and put my hands up: it’s not the romance genre that I dislike. Maybe it’s the way modern romances drag you through predictable plots, manufactured misunderstandings, and couples who fall in love after approximately three conversations and a mildly flirtatious coffee.
Casablanca reminded me what a great romance can be. It understands that the best love stories aren’t really about getting the girl. They’re about what you’re willing to give up for love.
Here’s looking at you, Casablanca!
