He Sleeps with the Fishes

A few classes ago was mentioned the interesting shot Coppola had used immediately before the death of Luca Brasi. Hired by the Godfather to spy on the Tattaglias, Luca Brasi enters a room where Sollozzo and a member of the Tattaglia family awaits. During this entrance to the room―although the focus is subsequently adjusted to Luca Brasi and the people within the room―the camera first shows a glass panel with numerous fish painted on it. It is recognisable from viewing the next few shots that these fish were intentionally shown by Coppola because they foreshadow the event which follows: Luca Brasi's death.

A few scenes after his shooting is given to the Corleone family from the Tattaglias a fish wrapped in the clothing of Luca Brasi. At this point is it first realised by the Corleones what had happened to Luca Brasi. As the Corleones are Sicilian, they know to interpret the delivery as a message that Luca Brasi now "sleeps with the fishes" (Coppola). Apparently, because Sicily is an island, dead bodies there are simply thrown into the sea in order to conserve space. Therefore, the dead may be regarded as "[sleeping] with the fishes" in the water (Coppola).


Relating the appearances of fish in both scenes is made evident the use of foreshadowing. Coppola purposefully took the shot of Luca Brasi through a piece of glass with fish to indicate he is to "[sleep] with the fishes" sooner or later.