<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="3">0</h1>
The story of The Godfather 2 is perfect.
Even in the history of cinema, I think there are very few stories that can be called "perfect".
The meaning of "perfect" is:
No plot of this story can be deleted, added, or even replaced;
The story could not have been better designed, could not have had another version, could not have had another ending;
The story is predestined, almost depicting an unchangeable destiny.
It is precisely because this perfect story is such a tragedy that I will indulge in grief for a long time after watching it.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="3">1</h1>
What is the core of the whole story of Godfather 2?
What I saw was the tragedy of Mike Corleone's life.
His tragedy, as mentioned earlier, is rooted in his nature;
His rebelliousness, his ruthlessness, his cruelty, and his taciturn concealment of his nature—
His tragedy is an inescapable doomed fate, and this inevitability gives the character an unparalleled tragic beauty;
And this tragic beauty, which is full of violence, is almost at the heart of the culture that permeates the Sicilian tradition.
Mike knows his nature, and he tries to restrain himself, hoping to be the protector of the family rather than the perpetrator;
However, he could not tolerate betrayal, nor could he accept defeat, let alone expose his family to the blade of the enemy;
So he had to resort to violence, to commit atrocious and horrific acts again and again.
This did protect his family, but at the same time hurt them even more:
He kills his sister's husband, the father of the godson;
He killed his own brother, the son of his parents;
He kills his former siblings, his father's friends;
More than that, it was the enemies and traitors he killed.
He killed everyone who made his family afraid, so he himself became the fear of his family.
It is not that the dragon slayer will eventually become a dragon, but that the dragon slayer itself is already as powerful and terrifying as the dragon;
What we fear is not only malice and harm, but also power itself.
This is the curse that Mike Corleone cannot escape.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="3">2</h1>
In another storyline of the film, the history of his father, Victor Corleone, who founded the family is described;
I have always believed that the real meaning of this story is to set off and highlight the tragic nature of Mike.
Victor's life also began with violence.
His father was killed by the local godfather, and the entire family was hunted down and killed by the mafia;
He was the only child to survive and a killer who had to pursue revenge all his life.
But after setting foot on American soil, he began his new life:
He made his own living, with friends, wives and children;
He had the traditional life of Sicily and he was happy.
However, for the sake of healing one's own children, but also for the future of the whole family;
He personally killed the local mafia leader, and became the protector of the neighborhood himself, and he also gained love.
Instead of charging protection fees for civilians, Vido Corleone will fight for the rights of the weak;
He was a true protector, protecting not only his family, but also his friends—
And this makes Mike Corleone's life even more sad.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="3">3</h1>
Like his father, Mike is determined and not afraid to use violence and deterrence;
But also based on violence, Victor gains the love of family and friends, while Mike only gets the fear of everyone;
Even the soundtrack and picture in the film are completely different, Victor's entrepreneurship is accompanied by joy and hope, while Mike's life is full of shadows and pains.
The comparison between the two can better reflect Mike's tragedy:
He is almost continuing his father's life, and every step of his actions seems to follow the pace of his father's entrepreneurship;
But the result is diametrically opposed, and Mike is confused and miserable, but unable to get out.
Is this simply because of the difference in the nature of father and son?
This is not the case.
Many times, Mike has no other choice but to eliminate dissidents and destroy enemies;
Because the world he faces is not the same as his father's, the world is more cruel and violent, and it is also full of more intrigue and intrigue;
Tolerating betrayal and forgiving the enemy will inevitably lead to the destruction of the family, and the world is already much more dangerous than in the past.
Like facing a dragon that is about to slaughter everything, Mike can only kill it with more powerful powers;
Even if it would make him fall into the fear of everyone, even if it would make him betrayed by his own family;
Warriors must draw their swords and have no choice.
This is a tragedy that all dragon slayers cannot get rid of.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="3">4</h1>
And the most painful finishing touch of this film to me is the clip of the final ending.
At his father's birthday party, Mike said that he would volunteer to join the army despite all the expectations of the family.
I thought this clip was just to show that the old days when the brothers gathered together are gone;
But it is clear that that kind of tragedy does not meet the director's expectations, and what he shows is a more complete misfortune.
When Victor Corleone was young, he always loved his youngest son Mike the most, and such a plot appeared many times;
This is all to pave the way for Mike's rebellion at this moment —
The father's deepest love, and the son's most ruthless rebellion.
The whole family has high hopes for Mike, and several older brothers hope that the younger brother will build a greater and brighter career;
But Mike is still bent on going his own way and throwing himself into the senseless war of "defending the country".
He may have died on the battlefield, and this may have been his most utter betrayal of his father.
Until the last scene, everyone walks out of the restaurant to celebrate their father's birthday;
Only Mike sat expressionlessly, eating his own meal alone.
Mike, who rebelled so ruthlessly against his father, so resolutely against the family;
But it is so similar to his father, so determined to protect the family business -
He was alone all the time.
The tragic life is rooted in his nature and determined by the times and the world;
Fate, that is, it seems that it can be escaped, but in fact it is absolutely impossible -
Mike Corleone is so frightening, sympathetic, and sentimental.
This article is original by "Uji Water", click to pay attention to and then go!