In every film, adding a sense of realism is imperative to properly convey a director’s storyline. Whether that be showing a family eating breakfast, a character eating a candy bar, or children gathering around a birthday cake, food can become essential, and more specifically, desserts add another layer to a scene a director is trying to set. Some of the most famous directors, like Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, and Francis Ford Coppola, added food in their scenes to help audiences relate to characters and possibly have a little slice of their lives on the silver screen. Food can also add bits of heritage and background to characters, especially in a monumental movie like “The Godfather.”
As one may be wondering, how does the importance of food in movies relate to Francis Ford Coppola’s mafia epic, “The Godfather?” Everything! One specific quote from “The Godfather” states, “Leave the gun, take the cannoli”. It is a very out-of-place thing to shout in a dramatic crime story. Yet, the background behind this line goes deeper into the importance of Italian heritage and desserts, which have brought people together for centuries. In the scene, mafia member Peter Clemenza has a conversation with his wife about cannolis and making sure not to forget them. In such a reserved and important family that Clemenza works for (The Corleones), he still feels comfortable putting his family first. For a director like Francis Ford Coppola to make his movies as realistic as possible, food is a way to do so. It is not only visually appealing, but it makes it relatable. When watching the cannoli scene, viewers of a similar background or Italian heritage can also think about how sure desserts bring them closer to their families.
Desserts can make people feel a wide variety of emotions. Whether nostalgic about their past or hungry for a treat, it is interesting to get multiple perspectives of how people perceive food on screen. When asked what film desserts had played a crucial role in the plot, Emma Casey and Nate McKean said, “Willy Wonka.” In that film, desserts are used to convey childlike imagination and a whimsical tone for the rest of the film. Also, when asked about the most memorable dessert she had seen in a movie before, Emma Casey described, “ A scene in a movie when a couple is on a date and they feed each other chocolate-covered strawberries.” Along with a similar theme, Emma Casey felt that desserts were very important in a show like Emily in Paris, and romance movies do the best job at showcasing desserts. Whereas Nate Mckean said, “My favorite movie genre for showing desserts would have to be Comedies.” Depending on the person, they can derive different emotions from foods being used in situational circumstances. To convey love, a couple may exchange a box of chocolates, or to make an audience laugh, a character may slip on their ice cream cone. It is all up to the director to decide to use subtle techniques to shift the tone of a scene.
The ultimate goal of adding the cannoli scene to “The Godfather” is to show the values of the Corleone family and how their own blood always comes first and foremost. This is relatable to how many Italians grow up with family being their main priority in life. This article would not be complete without learning about making cannoli dip yourself and putting a spin on the original recipe derived from Sicily in the second century.
To begin, add two cups of ricotta cheese, one eight-ounce package of cream cheese, 1 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar, one teaspoon of vanilla extract, and ½ cup of miniature semisweet chocolate chips. Mix the ricotta and cream cheese until a nice, even consistency, then add the sugar and vanilla. Mix in the chocolate chips and then chill for 10-20 minutes. To mimic the cannoli shell, breaking large chunks of waffle cones works very well as a chip. Whether you are making it alone or with family, hopefully, these sweet treats will bring back memories or be there to create new ones.
Sources:
“Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli”: The Hit Man as Family Man
