Mise-En-Scene in The Godfather

 I am making my mise-en-scene post on the movie The Godfather which came out March 24, 1972. This movie is about the Corleone family's struggle to stay alive in the ruthless Italian Mob. This movies shows how the Corleone family has to deal with the death of each other and of loved ones, the betrayal of friends, and the rise of Michael Corleone as the new head (or Don) of the Corleone mob family. The movie was directed by Francis Ford Coppola, but the book was written by Mario Puzo.

In the begging of the movie we are introduced to Amerigo Bonasera the undertaker (this is important to the story), Bonasera is explaining to Vito "Don" Corleone how Bonasera's daughter was assaulted and how the men who did it were persecuted and then they were let go by the judge who was most likely paid off. In this scene it starts off with low key lighting when it shows the perspective of Don Corleone. The only form of light is coming from a window behind Corleone and the light shines on the face of Bonasera. After Bonasera is done talking we see the face Marlon Brando's character Vito "Don" Corleone. Corleone explains that if you want a favor from him then all he wants from you is a friendship.

The next scene in the movie is when Vito "Don" Corleone's son Michael Corleone returns home from war. For this scene it is used to show Michael's progression from good guy who never breaks the rules, to a ruthless mob leader who is ready to kill anyone to protect his family and get what he wants. The use of costumes shows that Michael came home in a war uniform (to show his good side) to later on in the movie when he is wearing clothing that is the same as his father. 

The end of the movie uses a deep space scene in which Vito Corleone has just lied to his wife about doing bad things, and is then named the new Don (leader of the mob). This scene shows deep space because after Vito lies to his wife she walks out of the room to make a drink, then she sees as a bunch of men from the mob walk into the room and kiss Vito on the hand and call him Don Corleone. The kiss on the hand is symbolic because there is a ring on the Don's finger, also the kiss is used to show respect, loyalty, and friendship with the Don.