Family lessons in The Godfather
High expectations
Hello everyone, today I’m here to share some thoughts and impressions I had about the movie The Godfather. I know, I know. The movie is a classic, and since I hadn’t seen it yet, this weekend I decided to stretch my legs on the sofa, put some popcorn in the microwave, and press play on this classic film.
Although I’d always heard about the film, the first impression the cover gives is of a mafia movie. And the plot portrays that very well. I want to emphasize that the screenwriters deserve praise!
Well, if we take into account the year of filming and the resources available, the movie fit together very well with the sequences, and the sequence of events was perfect. However, in my opinion, this film is more about family. If you pay close attention, everything revolves around the “godfather.” That’s what they call him because most of the characters feel like part of the family.
As the film unfolds, you begin to realize the extent of the respect and devotion the allies have for our beloved Marlon Brando. I can confidently say he could give lectures and charge a fortune for them today. The goal here is not to give spoilers. I will try to be as concise as possible.
Family is everything.
Family is everything, yes. Period!
Parente, that’s something else entirely.
Colleague, it’s another one.
Friend, it’s another one.
However, when I say family, I mean those 4-5 people you can count on one hand, who would kill or die for you. That’s yours. Your people. And in the movie, that’s very evident, even though he has several affiliates. The Godfather knows very well who his inner circle is.
He also knows that, after an unfortunate accident, he needs, above all, to think about his family and continue his legacy. That’s when he begins to develop his youngest son… a highly calculating, calm, serene, and exceptionally intelligent man. And so, our hero emerges. And with him, his journey…
Aging the wine
As is customary in Italy, drinking fine wines is a priority. There, they know that care, time, and proper handling are necessary to achieve the best possible beverage. Therefore, the same process occurs with our iconic wine. It begins in one way, overcomes its challenges, and finally reaches its peak. Its maturation is progressing.
One of the scenes that caught my attention the most was when his older brother, a stranger, an outsider, had to support the family in an important business decision. That’s when the younger brother warned him:
“…You’re my brother, and I love you. But if you side with a stranger and don’t support your family, I’ll end you…”
It was something like that, more or less.
So, this scene caught my attention. Because, nowadays, the meaning of family is being lost. That unity that supports and helps each other. That, even in crisis, doesn’t tell anyone outside. Times have changed…
In a hilarious way, I finished the Succession series. And seeing how much the three brothers fight and are willing to do anything for power is paradoxically the opposite of the Godfather universe. And that caught my attention. Compare:
The Godfather – Release year 1972.
Succession – Release year 2018.
46 years difference.
In 46 years, have we really lost so much?
Mother, values, and unity.
Recently my mother went through a delicate medical process. It’s transformative what the increased probability of death does to your mind. Especially coming from someone who gave birth to you and brought you into this world. Someone with whom you have a relationship so profound that words in my vocabulary could not describe it.
Therefore, once the difficulty was overcome, I became even closer. We traveled more together, ate more together, smiled more together, cried more together. After all, life is meant to be felt. I talked about this in the article I wrote about Rick Rubin’s creative process.
Therefore, I want to conclude this text by reminding you of three valuable lessons I learned from watching The Godfather:
- Know who is truly your family and who is your relative/colleague.
- Family first.
- Protect your family and their interests. No matter what.
And speaking of the movie, stop everything and go see it. It truly is a work of art. See you soon!
Victory and Concord Grow