Summary of Chapter 14 and "The Godfather"-Breanna Schwartz

Rebecca Epstein explains in chapter 14 the many ways in which food plays a factor in films. Food can serve as a setting for social relations and cultural values. It lends depth to characters, advances the narrative, engages senses and sensations. There are many ways food can be conveyed, such as, culturally, spatially, temporally, and sexually. Differing foods can illustrate cultural tension, differences among foreign foodways, masculinity and femininity, and comfort. Even when dining with others, food can make communication, problem solving, and social comfort easier to obtain.

In the beginning of "The Godfather," food plays a major factor in the film (culturally, spatially, temporally, and sexually). At the wedding reception, the food is conveyed culturally by the large wedding cake and the Italian food everyone is eating, such as the lasagna. It is conveyed spatially by the outdoor reception, temporally by the time of day, and sexually when Sonny and one of the bridesmaids flirt at the table.

The scene when the men are eating Chinese food shows how much Sonny does not value the Italian culture. The Chinese food shows more depth into Sonny's personality and also illustrates the tension among the family. They can not sit down at the table and have a well cooked meal instead. The family does not want to take time away from "the business". Michael arranges a meeting with Sollozzo and McCluskey at a quiet Italian restaurant to negotiate a peace. At the meeting, food helps to lead communication, it is a comfortable setting and eventually "solves" (bang-bang) the problem. The comfort of the setting makes it easier for Michael to successfully finish the "hit."

Every time Vito Corleone is with a client, he offers them a drink to calm them down. Michael does the same thing right before Carlo Rizzi, his brother-in-law, is killed. The liquor is offered as a sign of comfort and friendship. Sometimes it is used to throw the person off guard and not realize what is about to happen.

Food plays a major factor throughout the film, even when Vito Corleone dies he is in the garden amongst his tomato plants. "The Godfather" may not be considered a "food film," but it uses food in many ways to engage the viewers senses and sensations.