Cinema Chats: “Casablanca,” Jewish Origins and Contemporary Reflections

Join moderator Lucy Shahar and Dr. Kate Hearst to examine the Jewish connections in Casablanca and how we can view the movie in 2022.

Casablanca was released in 1942, exactly eighty years ago, and is beloved by many.

Neither the word “Jewish,” nor any reference to Jews is mentioned in Casablanca. Yet, the origins of the film’s narrative were Jewish, and the message of the film centered around the Jewish Refugee Crisis as it emerged in Nazi-controlled countries.

In her talk, Kate will delve into the Jewish connection to Casablanca and examine the cinematic elements that make the film an outstanding viewing experience.

Historian and filmmaker Kate Hearst holds a Ph.D. in history and a M.F.A. in film from Columbia University. She has appeared in the CNN series, The Movies, presenting the decade’s most important directors and influential films. Since 2011, Kate Hearst has been teaching film and media studies at various New York-based colleges including: Sarah Lawrence College, Columbia University, Brooklyn College and the Fierstein Graduate School of Cinema. She regularly writes for Film International.

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We recommend you watch the film in advance of this lecture. The film can be streamed on HBO Max, YouTube, Apple TV, Vudu, and Prime Video.