Hailey Jo Hopkins
How does the mafia myth play out on screen? Which films portray it best? Worst? Why?
Mafia myths are the ideas that have developed over time through western media influence concerning organized criminal groups. They can be found within American and Italian films that tell stories about the mafia.
Myths regarding the mafia have evolved over time through film, but the original idea of the “gangster” has taken an immortal form. Images of Mafia bosses are usually older, Italian men who wear expensive suits. They come from a harsh or poor background and had to fight their way up in the ranks. A film character that mostly fits this mafia image is Vito Corleone from The Godfather. Corleone is one of the best examples of the mafia myth on screen. There are four key elements that define western mafia films according to Larke-Walsh. They are an Italian heritage (usually Sicilian), structure, business, and omertà. These elements are all seen in The Godfather.
Mafia myths can be based on actual historical accounts of the mafia. There are many Films based on real past events concerning the Italian mafia. Two of them, At War with Love, and Salvatore Giuliano takes the same time-period in Sicily and show the mafia’s influence. At War with Love shows a humorous approach to the Americans allowing mob influence during their Italian occupation in World War II. Salvatore Giuliano is a more serious film about that time that follows Sicily after the death of famous outlaw Salvatore Giuliano.
The mafia members in At War with Love are portrayed as bulky individuals who follow orders, but aren’t the brightest. They are commanded by their boss who is powerful and greedy. The group eventually gains total control over their area when their boss is elected as mayor. The mafia in Salvatore Giuliano is more serious and shows in a documentary style how individuals are affected by the mafia. Despite their differences, both films are similar because they both show how dangerous the mafia can be and the trail of bodies they leave behind.
In The Seduction of Mimi, the mafia isn’t the main focus. Like At War with Love, the mafia storyline takes a backseat to the main character’s story. It isn’t until the end of these movies that you see how much the mafia has influenced these characters. The myth of the mafia secretly being able to control everything within their areas is shown in these movies.
The mafia is not an outdated idea, but most of these films portray them as such. Again, when you picture the mafia myth as a person, Vito Corleone is the character that most often comes to mind. The modern-day mafia has its own image which you can see on TV with The Sopranos, or on film with Gomorrah. These “gangsters” are not always wearing the fancy suits, but they still have most of the qualities as the classics. They are business men, like Tony Soprano, they have structure, and they keep their code of silence, the omertà. Within these modern installments of media, the mafia myth continues to live on and evolve.
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