The Godfather

This will not be a deep analysis of the history of the film in our culture, or about the current online series “The Offer” (have not seen it yet, except for a few impressive clips online; will handle it one day). This is simply my own feelings about one of the most important films of the last fifty years.

And I almost missed it.

I was in a café, noting that certain patrons were leaving behind their copies of their weekend reading material, meaning newspapers that I rarely read anymore (I was more excited about the prospect of doing another crossword puzzle; keeps the head sharp). And I got lucky. One patron left behind a copy of the Sunday New York Times (good prospect for word puzzles). When I flipped through it, I found that there were no sections removed, including the Arts section. And there it was: March 15, 1972. You trivia buffs should know why that day is so important. “The Godfather” premiered in New York on that date.

Fifty years…

It is interesting to me how many people around me just could not believe it when I shared that info. My mother, at the end of a call, thought that I was joking when I mentioned the length of time between its opening on the silver screen to her present memories of the film (she seemed to watch it every year; she also saw it when it first came out a year before I was born in ‘73). A colleague, many years older than me, said the one thing that has continued to stick in my head: “What have I been doing with my life?”

A fair question for us all.

What have we all been doing with our lives?

“The Godfather” is one of those films, perhaps like “Gone with the Wind”, “The Wizard of Oz”, or even “Star Wars” (do not dare call it “Episode Four”!) which feels as though it has always been there. As I said, I did not want to go into the making of the film and the controversies around it (there is plenty of recorded evidence for the die-hards among you). I am approaching it as a personal experience of my life and one that I am glad to have shared with my family.

Television played a key role. As I said, my mother saw it a year before I was born, so I was not around to share the experience. But there was television; there was the possibility to see it both on broadcast television and video tape (remember those things?); there was a chance to see what all the hype was about and learn a little about that incredible family.

And what a family! I could completely understand the dynamic of the Corleones. Vito was respected, loved and yet had a target on his back (main theme of the first half of the film); Santino is the hot head who does not understand how emotions can give your game away (was his loss really that terrible?); Fredo, the weakling who somehow made it to the sequel (was his loss really that necessary?); and Michael.

Michael, Michael, Michael…

Anyone else notice that he never has a label placed on him? The brothers all have their characters spelled out for them, but the college boy goes without one? Well, I have figured it out. Michael is the stubborn one. Or the cold one. Or the calculating one. Actually, let’s skip all that.

For the second time in one month, I have watched the film on the big screen. The first time was in one of those horrible multiplexes where every corner looks like the backdrop for a videogame. The only reason I chose that spot to watch it for the first time was because a colleague mentioned that she had never seen it and was going to be watching it for the first time (she had never seen it in any format). Now, this was an interesting experiment: watching a masterpiece with someone who had never seen it before and measuring the reaction (I had already done this at an anniversary showing of “Alien” and it was quite fruitful). So, I tagged along.

Need I say that she loved it?

It was interesting to hear someone say that they had never seen anything like that before, and, more importantly, she finally understood the hype behind the film. All I wanted.

And the second showing? Well, this was at a favourite repertory theatre that I had not attended since the quarantine started. And I was glad that I chose that one for the second experience. First, I got in early, bought my popcorn, walked into the second room…and it was packed. The audience was of all ages, colours, genders, attitudes, and we could not wait for this to start.

Did I need to see it twice?

Well, why not? I knew that this was a special event, and that, in about two years, there would be the same kind of celebration over the sequel (an even better film, according to certain experts out there). And the thing is, I am tempted to head out once again to see it (hopefully, with the nice weather will allow people to see it in one of our fine public parks). I will be there, with all those lines and scenes in my head:

“I believe in America.”

“I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.”

“Don’t ever take sides against the family again.”

“Look how they massacred my boy.”

“Don’t ever ask me about my business.”

“Never let anyone outside of the family know what you’re thinking again.”

I could go on…and so could you.