The Human Condition & Hero’s Journey

When we first started the unit we talked about our favorite stories. We realized that everyone’s favorite story was something we could connect to and usually was the story of a hero. If one thinks about it, every person on the planet is a hero. To make it through life one has to be a hero. We enjoy reading stories when there is a hero because it relates directly to us. Everyone wants to see success in life, it is part of the human condition, so when Harry defeats Voldemort we are happy, when a poor boy from the slums becomes rich, we are happy. 

‘The Godfather’ is an enjoyable movie because we can relate to Michael. Michael is going through trials, going to the innermost cave, and becoming a hero. However, the audience is in a tough place. Coppola has made Michael a character that one likes and wants to see succeed; however, the audience has negative feelings towards the mafia. It is controversial that a character one likes will succeed by becoming something often seen as evil. 

Coppola has done an amazing job of showing the mafia as both good and evil and has left it up to the audience to decide what they think about organized crime. He has put the hero’s journey and human condition together in a way that both confuses the audience and helps us further understand the meaning of both. Part of the human condition is being accepted, is it right if the place you are accepted is a place of organized crime? is Michael good or evil? is organized crime evil? These are all questions the audience has and will hopefully be addressed later in the film. 

Class Acts - The Train

In the scene where Michael kills Sollozzo and McCluskey the sound of a train is overpowering. The train can symbolize many things: Michael’s thoughts and heart beat, the fact that Michael will no longer be able to go back to his civilian lifestyle, and the reality that Michael’s life is now a set path. 

The train is moving faster and becoming louder as the scene goes one. The fast movement of Michael’s eyes mimics the sound and creates a feeling of stress for the audience. It is clear that Michael is having a hard time moving into the mafia world and leaving his life as an ordinary citizen behind him. The train comes to a screeching halt just as Michael stands up and shoots. This halt of the train corresponds with the halt of Michael’s other life. He is now on a one way path and has joined the mafia.

As soon as Michael shoots there is no possibility for him to go back to his other life. He is now fully committed to being part of the Corleone family and part of the mafia. Just as a train only goes one way Michael’s life now only has one way to go. Michael’s life will now be on rails, he will be told what to do and will have a lot less freedom. 

The speeding sound of the train can also be related to Michael’s thoughts and heart beat. Michael’s heart is beating faster and louder and thoughts are probably going through his head faster than he can process them. All of this shows tension and creates suspense for the audience. 

Finally, you almost feel as though you are Michael as you are watching the scene. As the train gets louder you can no longer hear the conversation and it is clear by Michael’s body language that he is not listening either. You are worried for Michael and the audience’s thoughts are moving just as fast as Michael’s trying to figure out what he is going to do. 

I believe that the sound of the train positively added to the scene. At first one was confused as to why there was the sound of the train, but this confusion leaded to a better understanding of the situation. 

The Power of a Zoom

Coppola has been using camera pans and angles throughout the Godfather so far to help the audience understand different ideas. I believe the way Coppola zooms in and out in many shots symbolizes what the audience wants, and doesn’t want to see as well as the gaining of information. 

My first example of a zoom is during the scene in Woltz’s bedroom. This is an interesting scene for many reasons. First of all, the camera lens acts as the audience’s eyes. As an audience member you feel that what is on the screen is what you are seeing. So by the camera slowly zooming forward almost eye level with with what you would be seeing if you were standing there, creates suspense because you feel that you are there in the scene, slowing creeping forward to Woltz’s bed. Second of all, you are waiting and wanting to see what is going to happen and the camera zooms in at a slow pace. This is a great shot because it is zooming towards something that the audience wants to see and learn more about; however, once Woltz wakes up and you see the blood, the camera starts zooming out because the audience no longer wants to see what is happening. The camera is zooming in and out at the same speed that the audience’s want for more information is gaining and retreating. 

Another example of the use of the zoom is when Michael is sitting in the office and discussing how he will kill McClusky. As the audience gains more information the camera zooms in symbolizing this gain of information. 

There have many other examples of zooming in and out in the film and I believe that as the story continues the same technique will continue to be used. 

Class Acts - Prediction

Based on what I have seen so far in the movie and looking at Joseph Campbell’s “Hero’s Journey” I have some predictions as to what is going to happen next. First off, I believe that Michael is the hero in the Godfather and we will continue to follow his journey. At this point in the movie I believe that Michael is beginning stage three of the ‘Hero’s Journey’. He will continue to have to go through trials to ensure he is the hero in the next part of the movie. I think that the archetype of ‘star-crossed lovers’ is going to be used in the film where Kay will die due to the disapproval of society. Another possibility for Kay is that the family accepts her, but later on she shares secrets with a rival family and then Michael (or someone else) may be forced to kill her. 

Because Kay has been portrayed as the scarlet woman so far in the film I believe that ‘cheating’ on the Corleone family is something she would do. Kay has Michael’s heart and she may use that fact later in the film to hurt the family. In a way, Kay has seduced Michael and she may go behind his back and hurt the family. 

Later on in the film Michael will probably go into ‘The Innermost Cave’ where he will have a realization this is his new life and will be ‘reborn’ through an experience and will change emotionally. After that, something may happen to a main character, maybe even the Godfather, that will change Michael’s role in the family and put him as the number one. There are some symbols and characterization that have lead me to believe that Michael will become the new Don. First of all, there was a number 2 on the door at the hospital then, Michael went through the door possibly symbolizing that Michael was becoming the number two. As well, Michael had a halo behind his head when neither Tom nor Sonny did. The way that Michael acts is very similar to how the Don acted at the beginning of the movie leading me to believe through characterization that Michael is going to replace the Don. 

I understand that so far in the movie Clemenza has been Michaels mentor. Clemenza both called Michael a hero and gave him the ‘magic weapon’. Because we have only seen Clemenza so far as being Michael’s mentor just as he is becoming a hero he may only be the ‘threshold guardian’ and another person will have a greater role later on in the movie as Michael's mentor. 

The Motif of Doors

Doors have been used so far in “The Godfather” to help the audience understand many different ideas. 

Doors have been used to show separation: during the scene where Luca Brasi is getting ready to go out the camera is looking at him through a door. This makes the audience feel almost as if they are spying on Luca, and that what he is doing is something the audience should not know of or be a part of. 

Doors have also been used to show a transition between the mafia and family life of the Corleones. During the wedding scene all mafia work is done indoors, while the party and family is all outdoors. This makes the separation of the double world many Corleones live in more evident to the audience. 

As the movie continues doors may be used to symbolize multiple other ideas. A door may symbolize a tentative relationship between a Corleone and client, as a door can shut at any moment. This tentative relationship may also be seen between the characters in the movie and the audience. The camera is often outside of a door looking through at the characters, and the door may be shut on the audience having the effect of suspense. Doors may also be used to portray the idea of a way out for Corleones, clients, and the audience. 

The motif of doors have been used very effectively throughout the film so far and I am looking forward to see how they will continually be used. 

Light vs. Dark

In “The Godfather” the use of light and dark to accentuate the film is very evident. Whenever a Corleone is discussing a matter to do with their business there is dark lighting, which often contrasts with a bright scene. During the wedding at the beginning of the movie, shots are constantly switching between the bright, colourful, outdoor wedding and the dark office inside. Once again, this use of dark and light is seen when Hagen goes to visit Woltz. At Woltz’s studio Hagen pulls him aside into a dark corner to discuss Johnny with him, then walks out into the sunny outdoors. 

This use of Dark and light in the movie is very clear and helps the audience understand the Corleone’s business and lifestyle in more detail. Light can be used in a film to determine the mood and how the audience perceives different situations and characters. In the first scene the Don’s character is accentuated by light. There is a soft glow coming from behind him creating a halo around his head, this tells the audience that he is powerful. However, because the light is coming from behind him his whole face is quite dark which makes him hard to read, telling the audience that the Don is powerful with a dark side. This use of light in situations such as this is what adds to both the suspense and understanding of “The Godfather”. 

I believe that the use of dark and light in filming are going to be continually used throughout the film and it is something I am going to look for as we continue to watch the movie.