The historical context of the film is set in WW2, and the film itself was made during WW2. This led to a promotion of a patriotic message to stand up against the tyrannical Nazis.

Casablanca is a city in Morocco that is the last destination for immigrants fleeing Nazis to make it to the United States. Thus, Casablanca (1942) echoes the message of the American dream, which the director Michael Curtiz could understand. His daughter, Victoria Lucas, tells us his story, "He alone left his native country of Hungary for the United States in the 1920's, even though he had many relatives who were still there. Some members of the supporting cast, minor roles, and extras who appear in the film were refugees from the war in Europe, and some of them had been very big stars in their own home countries, but had to flee with little more than the clothes on their backs."

The two old lovers reunite after all this time went by, over a song that they used to cherish, ironically titled "As Time Goes By", performed by Dooley Wilson. This bittersweet moment of seeing someone you used to know so well, is nostalgic, heartbreaking, yet beautiful.
- Almost the exact same scene happened in La La Land (2016)
- The Weeknd's song"Save Your Tears", is about this exact same moment as well, with the following lyrics “I saw you dancing in a crowded room/you look so happy when I’m not with you/ but then you saw me caught you by surprise/a single teardrop falling from your eye”

Casablanca (1942)

Two former lovers, Rick and Isla, unexpectedly reunite while Isla & Isla's new husband try to escape Nazis