Week 1 lit feature hunt - Alice

Irony
Initially, when I first saw "The Godfather", I thought that the movie would be focused on the title--the godfather, Vito Corleone. However, the story turned out to be about the godfather's son, Michael Corleone, and his hero's journey. I thought of it as very ironic--the title did not match the movie, it seemed, because the plot illuminated the life of the pushed-out-of-the-family-business son, not on the godfather himself or his godson, Johnny Fontane. It turned out that there were many more ironic scenes and elements that followed the title: the seemingly water-tight family bond contained many traitors. Also, the fact that the sweet and innocent wife of Michael, Apollonia (possibly the only one "good") got killed shortly after becoming one of the Corleone. that scene seems to imply that the evil won over the good; assuming, of course, that "evil" means wrong-doing and corrupt, and "good" meaning free of crime and pleasant. This observation is biased because the first thing I think of when I hear the word hero, is Superman, or the knight in a shining armour; having grown up with fairy tales and media, where the protagonist almost always succeeds the villian in the end, it just comes natural to me.
I believe the lense through which "The Godfather" is viewed impacts greatly on how the movie is analysed. Therefore, some people might disagree that the things I found ironic is not ironic at all.

Denitza's Week 1

Characters

The ones with the star beside their name means that they are dead.

Men

Vito Corleone*- the godfather
Sonny*- eldest son
Fredo- middle son
Michael- youngest son
Barzini*- mafia leader
Tessio*- gangster friend of Don Corleone
Tom Hagen- adopted son/secretary of godfather
Clemenzo- woker of godfather
Carlo*- Connie's husband
Moe Green*- casino owner
Johnny- Don Corleone's godson, singer
Anthony- son of Michael

Women

Mama Corleone- wife of godfather
Sandra- Sonny's wife
Connie- daughter of godfather
Apollonia- Michael's 1st wife in Sicily
Kay- Michael's 2nd wife in NY

Week 1 Class Act--alice

On the day of Connie Corleone's wedding, Vito Corleone recieves two requests: one from the undertaker, Bonasera, and another from the baker, Naserene. They each plead to the Godfather in a different way. Bonasera offers the request like a deal-- "What do you want of me? Tell me anything. But do what I beg you to do... I'll give you anything you ask"--he even offers money. on the other hand, Nazorine comes to Vito Carleone in a friendly manner, and it is obvious that Nazorine respects him and Corleone thinks of Nazorine as a friend. In this case, Corleone does not expect anything in return for the request, but Nazorine had done him a favour by baking a grand cake. These two scenes are very interesting: they are same, yeet different. Both scenes are shot in the same way--the camera overlooking Corleone's right shoulder-- in the same room, in the same position, with the visitors facing the camera on the other side of the desk. However, the flow of the conversation and the mood are opposite of each other. When Mr. McGuigan briefly pointed this out, I thought it was a typical scenario, and it happens in life everyday. "What goes around, comes around" is exactly what happened in the scenes. Bonasera, who feared Corleone, had to bow down to him; Nazorine, who asked Corleone for a favour as a friend, was granted his wish without paying anything in return. The movie, "The Godfather" has a traditional hero's journey element with unique theme of its own.

Denitza's Week 1

T.H.E. G.O.D.F.A.T.H.E.R.

So we started the Godfather Part I. YAY! This is my favourite movie and I love the way that it is made. I like how Mr.McGuigan points out somethings that I had not noticed before. It is a good thing that I had watched it a few times before. It really does help to watch it more then once because each time you find something new, something that you had not noticed the first time you watched the movie.

Class Act

The Godfather begins with the quote "I love America..." and a patient, a 'friend' asks for the help of the godfather for his family problems. Vito Corleone, the godfather, is a very wise man who watches what he says and always keeps his word. He is a man that can be trusted and is highly honored. On his daughter's wedding he is sent gifts from high standered people like the judges. That is how high in power Don Corleone is. A big motif in this movie that I find interesting is Family. And the question that always is in my head is 'They are killers. But are they doing all of this killing and destroying because they want to protect their family or for the money? Family or Business?' I really pend on this. Most of the time, its family. Family plays a great role of importance in the movie. To Italians, the family is the most valuable thing, aside from all the business. Of course the director, Francis Ford Coppola, thought of making it clear that there's the office and then the family always stays out of the business and affairs that goes about in the office.

***Is it better to be loved or feared as a leader?***

It is better to be feared by your enemies and loved by your family and the people that are very close to you. This way, as a leader, you will be apreciated from both sides, both ways. In the Godfather, Vito Corleone is loved by his family and his enemies, in a way, fear him because they don't want to interferre, otherwise they will pay, with his unrefusable offer.

***What do CATS symbolize?***

It is odd that everytime that there is a scene inside the Godfather's office (Vito Corleone), there is a cat either around him or in his hands. I was just waondering whether that represented something- power? Usually the 'bad guy' is the one holding a cat or an animal, basically showing how high in class and power he is. It was something minor that caught my eye and I found interesting.

***What is the meaning of the names; Kay, Apollonia and Michael?***

Kay- a person that rejoices, whether it would be herself or someone else. (Greek name)

Michael- a person that is godlike. Very wise and high in power. (Hebrew name)

Apollonia- godlike, related to the god Apollo. (Greek name)

Vocabulary

* Dichotomy- a division into two contradictory groups, or the process of a division.

*Harbinger- someone who brings something (like a messanger). Ex: Kay. Everytime she is with Michael, something bad is always bound or does happen after their scene together. Its almost as if she is the one that precautions the audience.