With the Mafia being such a popular subject to make movies about, these films will be a part of many different genres. In this class, we have watched dramas and comedies. Each genre has a very specific approach to how it portrays mafia myth. Dramas romanticize the Mafia and Mafiosi. Comedies tend to show the negative aspects of the Mafia while focusing on a lighter and funnier subject.
Dramas are the most popular genre to explore the Mafia. In the United States, The Godfather and Mean Streets have become cult classics. The Godfather was one of the first Mafia movies to be released in the United States and is still one of the most popular movies ever made. People love watching The Godfather because of how the Corleone family treats each other. They are a likable family with a good sense of omertà. When people watch the Corleone family interact, they do not see all of the bad things that the family is causing, they see a strong family that will do anything to keep their relatives safe. Mean Streets shows a group of normal looking kids just trying to figure out what to do with their lives. In both of these movies, the main characters are very likable. Viewers root for these characters and want them to succeed in their business, even if that is being involved in the Mafia.
Comedies tend to focus on a larger story with the Mafia not being the main storyline. The main storyline of In Guerra Per Amore was Arturo trying to get Flora’s father’s permission to marry Flora. While the Mafia was involved in most of the film, it was not shown in a serious manner until the very end when Lieutenant Catelli was murdered by the Mafia. Lieutenant Catelli was murdered because the Mafia thought he was Arturo who had a hit put out on him by Carmello, Flora’s fiancè. Viewers knew Mafiosi were getting government jobs because of who they were but the viewers don’t focus on that until the death of Lieutenant Catelli. The viewers are more interested in the lighthearted love story than the very serious issue that really happened in Sicily during World War II. While In Guerra Per Amore was set in Sicily and showed family loyalties, it lacked the seriousness that Mafia movies are usually based upon.
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