The Resistance Ring
In The Last Jedi, Rose wins the trust of Temiri Blagg, one of the stable boys on Canto Bight, by showing him the Rebellion insignia hidden inside her ring. This ring, which opens up to reveal a symbol of resistance against an evil regime, is likely an homage to a similar ring in the classic 1942 film Casablanca, in which a resistance contact wins the trust of anti-Nazi freedom fighter Victor Laszlo by opening his ring and showing him the hidden Cross of Lorraine (a symbol of Free France) inside.
This is a fitting reference: the central location of Casablanca is Rick’s Café Américain, which, like Canto Bight, is a nightclub and casino that acts as neutral ground amidst a larger military conflict. Rick’s is a haven for people from both sides of World War II, and for the unscrupulous operators who want to profit off them. Similarly, many of the patrons at Canto Bight are war profiteers who sell weapons indiscriminately to both the Resistance and the First Order.
This environment breeds the cynicism of DJ, who urges Finn not to attach himself to a side in the galactic conflict. With his philosophy of looking out for himself first and not getting involved with a larger cause, no matter how noble, DJ sounds like the gruff hero of Casablanca, Rick Blaine, who famously says: “I stick my neck out for nobody.” Ultimately, however, Rick decides that the cause of freedom is worth fighting for – and so does Finn.
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Films: Episode VIII: The Last Jedi
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Concepts: freedom / gambling / hiding / selfishness / war and peace
Influences: Casablanca
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And the exact counterpart of Rick in Casablanca is Han in Star Wars: "Look, I ain't in this for your revolution, and I'm not in it for you, princess. I expect to be well paid. I'm in it for the money!" Same cynical (and ultimately incorrect) self-assessment. They both believe they care about nothing but themselves - until something flips that switch. There's a woman involved for both of them, of course, but in the end it's about believing in something greater than themselves.