![]() ![]() Our emotional response to Luca’s death hinges on what we’ve come to know about him: at this point in our experience of the film, he is not just some brawny, dispensable crony, but rather an actualized, round character. Though the impact of Luca’s death scene has much to do with surprise, it also has deeper, more complex roots. A sense of loss, keyed to the corruption of Sollozzo and Tattaglia, begins to color The Godfather, often exploding upon us in the most sudden and savage of ways. Thus, when Luca dies on an errand of loyalty, we register heavy tremors of shock. ![]() We cannot help having some stored attachment for this man, who first endears himself to us at the wedding with his poorly performed thank you to the Don. We are here directed to see how Luca will fare, this loyal, eagerly-obliging man who has been thrust into the Don’s dirty work. It is a test for Sollozzo-in the most obvious sense, we want to know if he can be trusted-but more so it is a test for Luca, our principal interest in this scene. Thus, when Luca first steps foot into the club, with the intention to carry out the Don’s plan, a silent tension smothers the air. Luca’s loyalty is executed in the form of a betrayal-one that is acted, of course. From the previous scene, we already know that Luca is to prepare the bait, to feign discontent with the Corleone family, and to ultimately test the waters for this newly emerging character, Sollozzo. There is something ironic about Luca’s presence here, and it is not simply his appearance. He is a man sent out on a mission-a mission by Don Corleone. The surrounding mirrors display his dark demeanor-his sober, calm professionalism-in multiple dimensions, but there seems to be one essential Luca. When he reaches the top he removes his coat and, if we were unsure before about the identity of the tall figure, the wide profile allows us to see him clearly now: it’s Luca Brasi, Don Corleone’s most valued henchman. He is out of place-a dark, lonely figure situated among a landscape of brilliant white. His looming stature fills up almost the entirety of vertical space from ground to ceiling, as he ascends with a casual, confident gait. ![]() His garments are dark-toned, contrasting with the surge of brightness that is the background. We see the lone figure of Luca, whose back faces the camera, dressed in all black and ascending the stairs. It is a mere hallway but spacious, a series of platforms and stairs-pristine, white, heavily mirrored, gold-accented, and possessing an opulence that plainly states “luxury.” We see many reflections of Luca Brasi in this Art Deco, heavily mirrored luxurious hallway-but we feel there’s one essential Luca ![]() We are transported into a setting never before seen, one that is fashionable, well-decorated, Art Deco-themed, and visually intriguing. The scene begins with the camera positioned at a low angle, hovering just above ground level. ![]()
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