Coppola: The Family That Changed Cinema

Francis Ford Coppola is one of the greatest directors of our time and the head of one of the most influential dynasties in American cinema. But it wasn’t always like that. Born into a family of Italian immigrants, much of his childhood he spent bedridden due to illness and attended more than 20 schools. Years later, he would become the man who adapted the legendary saga “The Godfather,” direct “Apocalypse Now,” and collect numerous prestigious film awards. Sofia Coppola is her father’s true daughter—bold and daring. Growing up, she didn’t want to remain in her parent’s shadow and made a dizzying career. But what did it cost them both?
• How did polio change the life of young Francis?
• Which film determined the director’s fate?
• How did Coppola fool the studio executives to obtain funding?
• Why did Coppola bring an unfinished “Apocalypse Now” to Cannes?
• What was the point of Coppola bringing plates with Italian salami and cheese to auditions with Marlon Brando?
• What did Coppola tell his daughter when she was only 11 years old?
This is the story of a father and his daughter. The story of a family. Success, fame, and recognition. But behind all of that there lies a great deal of blood, pain, suffering, and titanic labor. The Coppola family story is a mirror of Hollywood—how cinema changed, and, most importantly, who changed it. A true family saga. An Italian drama. An epic.