In this blog post, we’ll explore the life lessons conveyed by the movie ‘The Godfather’ and examine why it has long been regarded as a masterpiece.
Why is ‘The Godfather’ still considered a masterpiece today?
A total of 43 characters are murdered in ‘The Godfather’. Unlike in war movies or simple action films, where the deaths of extras are merely glossed over, this film depicts each murder scene and method in great detail and with great precision. Even from the perspective of modern audiences accustomed to graphic imagery, the murder scenes in ‘The Godfather’—produced in 1972—still come across as shocking and brutal. Nevertheless, ‘The Godfather’ gained immense popularity worldwide and was recognized for both its mass appeal and artistic merit, winning Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay at the 45th Academy Awards. Furthermore, it continues to be consistently regarded as one of the greatest films in world cinema history, establishing itself as a legend and a benchmark in the gangster film genre. So, what elements in ‘The Godfather’ captured the public’s interest and earned it recognition for its exceptional artistic merit?
The film ‘The Godfather’ centers on the leader of an Italian-Sicilian mafia organization operating in New York and his family. Vito Corleone, who immigrated to the United States alone as a child, settles in New York and goes on to lead a mafia organization, becoming a figure of immense influence. Backed by immense wealth and political influence, he is respected not only by other mafia families but also by high-ranking government officials and police officials, earning him the title “The Godfather.” Behind Vito Corleone’s tremendous success lay his unique charisma and unwavering philosophy. He was a man who strictly adhered to his principles—not only regarding his business but also in how he treated his family and, indeed, in all aspects of life. However, not everyone respected him. His most beloved son, Michael Corleone, despised his father’s business and sought to live a completely different life—even volunteering for the Marine Corps to avoid following in his father’s footsteps. However, when Vito Corleone is attacked by rival factions and faces the threat of death, and a tragedy strikes in which his eldest son, Sonny Corleone, is also murdered, Michael is ultimately forced to take over his father’s organization and fulfill his destiny to protect the family.
If we look solely at the plot structure—gunfights between mafia organizations, conflicts over the succession of power, and their resolution—it might seem like a simple and familiar story. However, the reason ‘The Godfather’ maintains its unrivaled reputation to this day is that it possesses elements that set it apart from countless other gangster films. I believe the reason lies in the different philosophies of life revealed through each character’s actions and the cause-and-effect relationships of the outcomes those philosophies produce. Countless people discuss what we can learn from ‘The Godfather’, and there are indeed many valuable lessons to be drawn from it. However, I would like to revisit this film by focusing on a few specific aspects.
What does Vito Corleone’s devotion to his family tell us?
For Vito Corleone, who runs a massive organization, family is his most important value. He won’t easily get involved in a business that threatens his family’s safety, no matter how great the profit might be. He also constantly emphasizes the importance of family to his family members and is willing to make any sacrifice for them. Only those who sincerely respect his family can earn the opportunity to speak with Vito Corleone and do business with him. In the film, Vito Corleone delivers the following famous line to his godson, Johnny Fontane:
“You spend time with your family? Good. Because a man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man.”
If there is one thing in the world that surpasses all other values, what would it be? While the answer may differ for each person, I believe that value is family. No matter how much wealth, honor, or power one may acquire, what meaning does it hold if one ultimately fails to protect one’s family?
Vito Corleone is a man who has everything, yet he constantly demonstrates a deep love for his family. Even if he delegates other matters to those around him, when it comes to family matters, he steps in personally to resolve them. He cares for each family member with devotion and love, doing his utmost to ensure their safety and happiness. For me, who regards family as the most important value in life, Vito Corleone’s philosophy and actions concretely illustrate what it means to be a head of household who leads a happy family.
Paradoxically, however, the film’s ending leads to a tragedy in which the family faces a crisis and loses its cherished members. After Vito Corleone’s death, Michael Corleone, who took over the organization, ran it in a different way than his father. Michael was also an outstanding strategist and an excellent leader, but his perspective on family differed from his father’s. Although he loved his family, he sometimes chose to prioritize his business over them, and the way he ran the organization eventually led to situations that threatened their safety. He eliminated his brothers who had put the organization at risk and became actively involved in illegal activities. Ultimately, even his most beloved daughter lost her life in a shooting by a rival faction, and the film ends with Michael screaming in agony as he holds her in his arms.
In ‘The Godfather’, family is portrayed as the most important value sustaining a man’s life. At the same time, it also shows that a family’s happiness and safety can crumble more easily than one might think. For me, who believes that building a happy family is the ultimate goal in life, the lives of the two leaders of the Corleone family leave a clear lesson. Family—which is easy to take for granted simply because they are always by our side—can be easily hurt by even the slightest crack. Ultimately, it is only by making the happiness and safety of my family my top priority that I can get closer to the goal I have set for my life.
Is a gentle yet strong charisma the mark of a true leader?
Vito Corleone is a successful leader who came to the United States alone from Italy, started from scratch in New York, and built a massive organization. When he first arrived in New York, he had no family, no money to support himself, and no knowledge of English. Nevertheless, he grew to become a figure of immense influence. The source of his success can be found in Vito Corleone’s unique charisma and strategic thinking. One of the most famous lines from the movie is as follows.
“I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.”
Vito Corleone’s greatest appeal lies in the combination of his prudent strategy and gentle charisma. In particular, the phrase “an offer he can’t refuse” symbolically illustrates his approach to problem-solving. Generally, an offer is an act of giving the other party a choice, but Vito Corleone’s offers create a situation where the other party is effectively unable to refuse. This strategy was possible because he possessed the insight to accurately discern what the other party wanted and feared. In other words, his ability to accurately understand others was his greatest weapon. Even in the mafia world, where power reigns supreme, I believe Vito Corleone was able to maintain his power base steadily and successfully protect his family based on his gentle yet strong charisma and exceptional insight.
This strategy and charisma are passed down to his son, Michael Corleone. Michael constantly ponders how to find the quickest and most efficient solution in negotiations, securing an advantageous position by turning his opponents’ strategies against them. In contrast, his older brother, Sonny Corleone, has a hot-tempered and impulsive personality, which often causes him difficulties during negotiations. In fact, Vito Corleone emphasizes caution to such an extent that he advises Sonny, “Never tell anybody outside the family what you’re thinking.” Ultimately, Sonny meets a tragic end due to his impulsive nature.
No matter what kind of life we lead, we live by forming relationships with people within various communities. In that process, it is difficult to avoid competition, conflict, envy, and jealousy. Through the portrayal of these three characters in ‘The Godfather’, I was reminded of the importance of a leader who is cool-headed yet gentle when necessary—one who is both strategic and charismatic.
I believe a true leader is someone who possesses both of these qualities. A leader who embodies both gentleness and strength is the kind of leader many people still aspire to see today, and I believe I can find that standard in the movie ‘The Godfather’. To grow into a better leader in the future, I hope to learn a great deal from the attitude demonstrated by Vito Corleone.
To me, ‘The Godfather’ is not merely a gangster film. It is a family drama—the story of a patriarch who, despite having achieved everything, valued his family above all else, and the tragedy that befalls the family when that love becomes distorted. At the same time, it is a work that illustrates the qualities and responsibilities of a leader at the helm of a massive organization. Reflecting on the lives of Vito Corleone and Michael Corleone—both heads of the family and leaders—I can find guidance on the attitude I need to adopt to achieve the goals I pursue in life. Although the values people hold most dear in life may differ from person to person, it is clear that ‘The Godfather’ offers an opportunity to once again reflect deeply on family, leadership, and the essence of life.
