If you've watched The Godfather multiple times, you know the film offers more than gangster wisdom.Francis Ford Coppola's film follows antiheroes through ruthless business dealings and gang wars without sugarcoating the violence and death.But a few layers under the brutal mafia discipline, The Godfather explores intimate emotions of love, a sense of duty, and self-discovery with irony and metaphors. When Michael Corleone says, "It's not personal, Sonny. It's strictly business," the line seems to be about cold pragmatism. But the moment reveals something deeper.This article explores how the quote reveals Michael's sense of justice and his devotion to his father, who survived an assassination attempt by a rival family.Story and Themes The Godfather revolves around the Corleone crime family, led by an aging patriarch, Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), who wants to hand over the reins of his crime empire to his reluctant son, Michael (Al Pacino), an ex-Marine and World War II hero. Michael has purposely been away from the business thus far, but finds himself drawn in. The narrative explores themes of crime, power, patriarchy, loyalty, and betrayal as it follows Michael ascending to the head of the clandestine empire, propelling it to new heights. To Give You a Little ContextVito Corleone, the head of the Corleone crime family in New York, is approached by drug lord Virgil “The Turk” Sollozo with a deal for an investment in his drug business and police protection around the holidays. But Vito declines, explaining that involvement in narcotics would alienate his political...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Tuesday, 18 November