The Meaning Behind The Godfather: Part II's Final Shot The final shot of The Godfather: Part II shows Michael Corleone alone and isolated from those around him, underscoring the cost of his decisions as the head of the Corleone crime family.

What is the point of the end of Godfather 2?

By enlisting in the armed forces, Michael chooses his country over his family – and wages war on his heritage (Italy). 2. The Godfather Part II ending communicates Michael's loneliness and despair. The wide shot of Michael shows him all alone at the dinner table.

What is the message of The Godfather 2?

The film doesn't shy away from the corrupting influence of power. Michael, initially hesitant to embrace the darker aspects of the family business, succumbs gradually. His transformation from a war hero to a ruthless Godfather is a chilling reminder of how easily ambition can cloud morality.

How exactly did Fredo betray Michael?

After telling Michael that he has never met Ola, Fredo later carelessly tells Geary that he had been to a nightclub with Ola. Michael overhears the conversation and realizes that Fredo betrayed him to Roth. He confronts Fredo, delivering the kiss of death.

What happened to Kay at the end of Godfather 2?

Michael may appear to get the better of the argument in Part II—he kicks her out of the house and keeps the children—but eventually Kay remarries and becomes the children's principal parent. Still, she admits in Part III that, even though she has moved on, she continues to love Michael and always will.

What Exactly did Fredo Do to Betray Michael Corleone? | The Godfather 2 Explained

Why did Michael lie to Kay at the end?

Of course Michael had good reasons to lie. The biggest was to protect Kay. What Kay did not know could not hurt her. Because Michael left her out of the Family business, nobody had reason to kidnap her or toture her to extract information.

Why did Michael divorce Kay?

Meanwhile, Kay decides to leave Michael and take their children with her, believing Michael will always live in a world of crime and violence. Michael asks her to reconsider, but Kay reveals she aborted their unborn son because she refused to bring another of his children into the world.

Who shot Fredo in the boat?

As Fredo prays the Hail Mary (which he claimed brought him luck whilst fishing), Neri shoots him in the back of the head, not knowing that Anthony was watching from his bedroom window.

Who ordered the hit on Michael Corleone in Godfather 2?

Michael quickly realizes that Roth ordered the hit. Remembering his father's advice to "keep your friends close, but your enemies closer", he maintains a good business relationship with Roth. Michael also suspects a mole within the Corleone family aided Roth, and needs time to uncover his identity.

What do the oranges mean in The Godfather 2?

Summary. Oranges are a powerful symbol in The Godfather, foreshadowing tragedy when they appear before a character's death. Initially meant to brighten up the set, oranges became an ominous motif throughout The Godfather trilogy.

Why did Marlon Brando not do Godfather 2?

Casting. Several actors from the first film did not return for the sequel. Marlon Brando initially agreed to return for the birthday flashback sequence, but the actor, feeling mistreated by the board at Paramount, failed to show up for the single day's shooting. Coppola then rewrote the scene that same day.

What did Fredo do to Michael in Godfather 2?

Betrayal. While in Havana, Michael learned that Fredo betrayed him when Fredo accidentally let it slip that he and Johnny Ola had been to a sex show in Havana. He confronted Fredo at a New Year's party in Havana, telling Fredo that he knew he was the traitor and giving him the "kiss of death".

What happened to Michael Corleone at the end of Godfather 3?

Vincent shoots and kills Mosca. Michael cradles Mary's body and screams in agony; the scene fades out into a montage of Michael dancing with Mary; Apollonia; and finally, Kay. Years later, an elderly Michael, sitting alone in the courtyard of Don Tommasino's villa, slumps over, falls to the ground, and dies.

What happens to Tom Hagen in Godfather 2?

The Godfather: Part II

Hagen remains on when Michael moves his family to Nevada, albeit in the reduced role that he dislikes. For instance, he was excluded from his negotiations with rival crime boss Hyman Roth.

Why does Michael shut the door on Kay?

In shutting the door on Kay, The Godfather ending highlights both Michael's decision to close his wife out of his business and the mafia's general attitudes towards a woman's role.

What happened to Fredo's body?

He would do this because he wouldn't want it to look like he was at all involved in Fredo's death. Fredo drowned while fishing and his body was never recovered. He fell out of the boat and sank and no one could retrieve him on that nice private lake.

Did Connie know Fredo was killed?

Michael publicly appears to forgive Fredo, but later has him killed after Connie organizes a visit for Kay behind Michael's back which breaks the agreement. Connie later says that Fredo had drowned, feigning ignorance of the truth. After Michael and Kay's divorce, Connie helps care for Michael's children.

What were they doing to baby Fredo?

Cupping, the application of suction to the body, as a healing technique has been used in many healing traditions: ancient Greek and Egyptian, Chinese, and Eastern European, to name a few, for many centuries. There's even a scene in “The Godfather II” when baby Fredo gets cupped because he has pneumonia.

How did Anthony know Michael killed Fredo?

It is later found that Michael sent Anthony to his room, where he saw Neri killing Fredo. He had much animosity toward his father and Neri from that point on, because he realised in time that he had been used to kill Fredo. He also sided with his mother because of this event.

Who killed Mary Corleone?

After her brother's debut concert, the assassin Mosca tries to kill Michael. One bullet grazes Michael's shoulder, but the other accidentally hits Mary in the chest, fatally wounding her. Michael is devastated by Mary's death, and screams in torment while cradling her dead body.

Who killed Sonny Corleone?

Enraged, Sonny speeds towards Connie's apartment in Hell's Kitchen ahead of his bodyguards. At the Long Beach Causeway toll plaza, Barzini's men trap Sonny and shoot him to death. During a meeting with the other crime family dons to establish peace, Vito realizes that Barzini masterminded Sonny's murder.

Did Michael Corleone love Apollonia?

Even when they walk together and she briefly stumbles, Michael catching her can be seen as a metaphor for exercising control. Later, in The Godfather Part III, Michael has a flashback about Apollonia. While he states that he loved her, it isn't clear if that is actually an honest admission.