Saturday, 28 January 2012

Michael and Fredo Corleone





                                                        Fredo (left) Michael (right)

In the film, The Godfather Part II the relationship between the brothers Michael and Fredo Corleone becomes strained due to Michael becoming the new Don, when it rightfully should have been given to Fredo as he is the older brother. Fredo later betrays Michael when approached by Johnny Ola, an agent of rival gangster Hyman Roth, this betrayal ultimately results in an assassination attempt against Michael at his Lake Tahoe home. Fredo later ambiguously claims that his goal in the secret deal had been simply to enrich himself in a manner that did not require him to be dependent on Michael, but swears that he did not realize he was being used as part of a larger plot to kill his brother. Michael deduces Fredo's role in the plot during his trip to Havana when Fredo, forgetting that he had previously told Michael that he'd never met Johnny Ola, lets the secret slip that he and Ola had met in Havana. Michael confronts Fredo later, telling him, "I know it was you, Fredo. You broke my heart. You broke my heart!". Fredo also reveals that he is deeply resentful that Michael was chosen as their father's successor; he believes that, being Michael's older brother, he should be the boss. Michael disowns Fredo, and tells assassin Al Neri that nothing is to happen to him while their mother is alive; the implication is that Fredo will be murdered once she dies. At their mother's funeral, and at their sister Connie's urging, Michael seemingly forgives Fredo; however, it is only a ploy to draw Fredo in so as to have him murdered. Towards the end of the film, Fredo befriends his nephew, Michael's son Anthony, and is to go fishing with him on Lake Tahoe. However, Anthony is called away by Connie, who tells him that his father wants to take him to Reno. Fredo is left alone in the fishing boat with Neri, and he takes the boat far out onto the lake. As Fredo prays the Hail Mary, Neri shoots him in the back of the head, killing him. As this happens, Michael watches from afar in his den.

This sibling relationship is an iconic one that is filled with rivalry and resentment throughout, however the torn relationship only occurs after their father's death, which is the same as my characters. The struggles and issues that are explored in this film are related to family and gang issues and so the sibling relationship here could help me when developing the relationship between the characters of Sonny and Rob.

No comments:

Post a Comment