Analysis
The opening scene from the Godfather allows Coppola to present the audience with key ideas and values conveyed through the use of generic elements of crime fiction within the text. This extract involves “Bonasera”, an undertaker, asking “Vito Corleone” for a favour. As the first scene it creates the thematic basis of the film.
The film’s opening dialogue establishes the films principal theme; the misuse of violence. Bonasera details his account of loss and asks Vito to deliver justice by killing those who dishonoured his daughter. This action itself, violence against women, is a common generic trope though Coppola changes its general definition from seeming more acceptable to a crime necessitating revenge. Vito agrees, though not to kill them, as long as Bonasera pledges his loyalty to the family.
This scene emphasises the inherent moral contradictions at the heart of Corleone philosophy as he agrees to act only after Bonasera enters the “the family”. Only then can the act of violence become synonymous with honour and loyalty. Yet Vito wants to keep his family life and business separated though, as the scene makes clear, violence and family are both inextricably linked. Coppola uses this irony as an expression of his cynicism concerning the erroneous justification of violence. Coppola uses montage editing and visual contrast to display the tension between binary oppositions as Vito, on one hand, is celebrating his daughter’s marriage with wide-open vibrantly coloured scenes and on the other orchestrating criminal actions in a dark, cramped sepia-toned office. Coppola’s camerawork in the office is an example of re-evaluating generic noir cinematography, neo-noir, as though not black and white he uses shadows and darkness as a motif for the immoral nature of the meeting.
The film’s opening dialogue establishes the films principal theme; the misuse of violence. Bonasera details his account of loss and asks Vito to deliver justice by killing those who dishonoured his daughter. This action itself, violence against women, is a common generic trope though Coppola changes its general definition from seeming more acceptable to a crime necessitating revenge. Vito agrees, though not to kill them, as long as Bonasera pledges his loyalty to the family.
This scene emphasises the inherent moral contradictions at the heart of Corleone philosophy as he agrees to act only after Bonasera enters the “the family”. Only then can the act of violence become synonymous with honour and loyalty. Yet Vito wants to keep his family life and business separated though, as the scene makes clear, violence and family are both inextricably linked. Coppola uses this irony as an expression of his cynicism concerning the erroneous justification of violence. Coppola uses montage editing and visual contrast to display the tension between binary oppositions as Vito, on one hand, is celebrating his daughter’s marriage with wide-open vibrantly coloured scenes and on the other orchestrating criminal actions in a dark, cramped sepia-toned office. Coppola’s camerawork in the office is an example of re-evaluating generic noir cinematography, neo-noir, as though not black and white he uses shadows and darkness as a motif for the immoral nature of the meeting.
Above: Family and Business: happily enjoying his daughters wedding and his dark underbelly; hiding in order to maintain his delusional facade
Coppola also addresses the issue of justice as he explores its tenuous nature. He does so employing the generic element of creating moral ambiguity by blurring the boundaries of the “hero” and the “villain” as we empathise with the cause of Bonasera and consequently Vito, the generic anti-hero, and therefore support their intent of “heroic” retribution and therefore “justice” through “villainous” acts.
Therefore this extract highlights Coppola's use of generic elements to explore the themes of violence, motives, justice and moral contradictions forcing readers to make their own judgments on these issues and re-evaluating their understanding of the crime fiction genre.
Therefore this extract highlights Coppola's use of generic elements to explore the themes of violence, motives, justice and moral contradictions forcing readers to make their own judgments on these issues and re-evaluating their understanding of the crime fiction genre.