The Godfather

One of the Classics

It is a movie about family, being a man, and organised crime. The movie begins with the wedding of Don Corleone's daughter. It is here that the family business is alluded to. It also establishes the importance of respect, and that it is always the family above all else.

Don Corleone is the head of the family and in charge of ALL of the families business, he makes the decisions and that is final. The movie starts just after the second world war, with family business doing quite well as the wedding is quite a large affair.

Michael, one of the sons has managed to stay out of the family business and has fought in the war. You get the feeling that while this may have been against his father wishes, he is respected by his father for being his own man. It is also indicated that Michael has quite a good brain and would probably be able to run the family. His brothers aren't as rounded in terms of being able to see all the angles or making considered decisions.

A few months after the wedding the Don barely survives an assassination attempt while walking down the street. While at the hospital Michael manages to save his father from another attempt. Michael, whose involvement in the family's business has been none so far convinces his brothers that he should be the one to take revenge for his father's attempted killing as no one will suspect him.

After Michael has exacted his revenge by killing a corrupt police captain, and the other person responsible for the attempt on his father's life he can not stay in America as he will be found and brought to justice. So Michael goes back to the homeland (Sicily) where he waits for things to cool off.

After a period of time Michael is able to return home, his father has recovered by this stage and makes peace with the other crime families. At this point it becomes that clear Michael is now fully involved in the family's business and will most likely become the next head of the family.

The movie also looks at how such an environment can lead to certain decisions and actions when protecting the family's honor, and sending a message to all other rivals is the main consideration. In order to protect the family at all costs you can not help but get drawn deeper into corruption and crime.

Simply put this is a must see movie.