Second viewing; my first one was at some point between January 1983 and December 1986.
The film alternates between being a prequel to the first film and a sequel to it. The prequel sections tell us about Vito's childhood in Sicilia, his coming to America, and his beginnings as a crime lord. The sequel sections show the consolidation of Michael as the new godfather, his problems with Roth, with his brother, and with his wife.
A complement to the first film, which explains a little more about Michael's psychology, especially in the final sequence. It is a well-made film, which entertains, but is not exactly my kind. It is more like a miniseries, and I do not like this kind of narrative economy, which privileges small personal affairs of a multitude of characters. The film oscillates between curbed sentimentality and effusive displays of it. The notion of a man traveling from America to Sicily to get revenge does not, I suspect, have much to do with real life; neither does getting away with it as easily as he does here.
Rating: 65 (up from 58)
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