All the guidance you need on living, dying and facing a pandemic are contained in the greatest movie ever made, The Godfather.
If you turn a blind eye to the murder, racketeering, gambling and prostitution - Vito Corleone (real name Andolini) has the whole thing pretty much sussed.
And in this time of grave uncertainty, everyone should look to the wisdom of The Don....
Expect the Unexpected
“I am a superstitious man,” The Godfather tells the heads of the five families before discussing the potential danger facing his son, Michael.
“If he’s struck by a bolt of lightning then I am going to blame some of the people in this room,” he says.
Faced with a life of such jeopardy, it’s telling that in the opening scene of the movie, Don Vito makes an arrangement with Bonasera, the undertaker.
Vito knew that in the business of life, there is only one guarantee. You’re going to die.
Be like Vito. Be prepared. Make arrangements.
Help the Helpless
At the wedding of Connie Corleone and Carlo Rizzi, Michael Corleone explains why his brother Tom has a different surname.
“Sonny found Tom Hagen on the street and he had no home so my father took him in and he’s been with us ever since.”
Look after those who can’t look after themselves. My own club, Watty Graham’s, Glen has set up a dedicated community response number.
It’s for anyone in the local area. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Catholic, or a Protestant – or even if you are from Slaughtneil.
If you can’t leave your home, if you need groceries or medicine delivered, then you ring the response number.
I am always proud to be a Glen man.
Initiatives like this one make me especially proud.
Don’t sweat the small stuff
As Johnny Fontane weeps because of his failure to land a big movie role, Vito springs off his chair and smacks his Godson. “You can act like a man. What’s the matter with you?” he roars.
Yet, Don Vito weeps three times in the movie.
First, when he is informed that Michael assassinated Sergeant McCluskey and the drug trafficker, Sollozzo. Secondly, when he learns that Sonny has been killed, and for the third time when he sees his murdered son at Bonasera’s mortuary.
But there is nothing unmanly about Vito’s tears.
Vito is crying out of sorrow for his children. Johnny Fontane was crying about his career and himself. At the family dinner scene as Vito is self-isolating in hospital, Connie corrects her brothers for talking shop.
“Papa never talked business at the table.”
Understand what’s important. Don’t stress over silly things. Like stock-piling pasta.
Drink moderately. Don’t smoke. Get your five a day.
Before getting shot five times, Don Vito bought three oranges (and a green pepper) from a street vendor.
Not only was Vito shopping local, The Godfather understood the importance of Vitamin C.
We see in a later scene with his grandson, Anthony that he also grew his own oranges.
At the meeting of the five families, Emilio Barzini is smoking a cigarette and four other mafia dons are puffing cigars. Vito has a glass of water and isn’t smoking.
In the garden scene with Michael where he confesses to increasing his intake of wine, Vito is munching nuts. As the owner of the Genco Olive Oil Company, we can assume Vito understood the health benefits of monounsaturated fats.
Is it any wonder the man survived five bullet wounds?
He would probably have survived the Coronavirus too.
Enjoy nature and animals
At the start of the film, Vito sits in his chair, gently stroking a grey cat. Later in the movie when Michael is having a meeting with Clemenza and Tessio, we watch Vito gazing at his tropical fish.
Judging by his perfectly maintained kitchen garden, and by the fact he was showing his grandson, Anthony how to spray pesticide, we can also conclude that the Godfather was an avid gardener.
Stress reduces immunity – which makes you more susceptible to illness. Pets reduce stress.
Being in the Great Outdoors reduces stress. Don Vito died of natural causes – an incredible achievement for an organised crime boss.
Don’t take unnecessary risks
The conversation between Vito and Michael in the garden (2hrs 21mins) provides the centre-point to the movie. It’s my favourite scene.
When informed that his three-year-old grandson is “already reading the funnies,” Vito smiles lovingly.
He immediately transforms into the doting granda.
But in a flash his focus returns to the ‘Barzini business,’ and the affectionate grandfather returns to his role of crime boss.
He tells Michael: “I spend my life trying not to be careless.
Women and children can be careless, but not men.”
If you have underlying health problems and if you are old, this is not a time to be careless.
Cut the strings
When the Corleones were vulnerable and faced with annihilation, The Godfather took no chances.
From his grave, he wiped out all existing threats to his family.
“I work my whole life. I don’t apologise to take care of my family and I refused to be a fool dancing on a string held by all those big shots.”
If you don’t agree with the men holding the strings - cut the strings. Don’t obey idiots. Take care of yourself. Take care of your family.
And eat plenty of oranges.
