Thesis for Casablanca movie, very difficult?

[Starstreams]

Hi,
This is so difficult. I had to watch the film Casablanca and do a film critic on it.
I got my paper back; The teacher said that "I need a thesis" and "the summary needs to be extended."
I don’t have too much of a problem developing a summary but how do you come up with a one sentence thesis for such a complicated movie? The movie is a love story, it’s political and very deep. My teacher said she wanted "one clear thesis statement" in my summary.

By the way, I do understand that a thesis points the reader forward to the main theme and the theme should reflect back at the thesis. It is the resolution to the overall theme.
But why is this so difficult? Doses this indicate that my vocabulary is weak? What can I do to come up with a one sentence thesis to cover the entire movie?

[curmudgeon]

How about...

"You must remember this, a kiss is just a kiss, a case of do or die … the fundamental things apply, as time goes by …"

[Starstreams]

But I don't think I can quote a thesis.

I came up with this though

Casablanca is a symbol of heroism demonstrated through one individual’s maturity to sacrifice his deepest passion in order to fulfill the better cause for all humanity.

[curmudgeon]

That's good. Why don't you embed the quote in it? or tag it on the end. It fits with what you are saying and creates interest.

Maybe;

'Casablanca' is a story of heroism describing an individual's maturity in sacrificing his deepest passion for the higher cause of humanity..."you must remember this etc.."

[Starstreams]

That sounds good curmudgeon, Thanks
Now, I'm not sure as far as MLA rules are concerned, is it ok to use a quote in a Thesis?

[curmudgeon]

I'm not sure either, perhaps someone else might be able to shed some light on that.

However...

Choosing Quotations

• Use quotations when another writer's language is particularly memorable and will add interest and liveliness to your paper.
• Use quotations when another writer's language is so clear and economical that to make the same point in your own words would, by comparison, be ineffective.
• Use quotations when you want the solid reputation of a source to lend authority and credibility to your own writing.

THESIS, QUOTATIONS,
INTRODUCTIONS, AND CONCLUSIONS

Adapted from Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum, 6th Edition
By Laurence Behrens and Leonard J. Rosen
New York: HarperCollins, 1997. Pp. 32-58.

Thesis, Quotations, Introductions, Conclusions