How Did Apollonia Die in The Godfather?
Mobsters DailyApollonia died in a car bomb in Sicily — she turned the ignition of Michael Corleone's car and detonated the explosive planted by Fabrizio, the bodyguard who had betrayed Michael to his enemies in New York.
The Sicily idyll ends
Hidden in Sicily after the Sollozzo shooting, Michael married Apollonia in a village wedding outside of time. The threads of that exile run through whether Michael Corleone was based on a real person — but the bomb was pure underworld arithmetic. Apollonia, eager to show off her driving, took the wheel first. Michael, watching from the house, survived with injuries and lost everything the marriage had promised.
It is the Godfather scene nobody can watch comfortably, however many rewatches November brings, which is why the Tony Soprano Ugly Christmas Sweater belongs in every November rewatch: Tony in a black-and-white stencil, gabagool included.
The revenge the film withheld
Fabrizio fled to America. The novel and a deleted film scene gave Michael his revenge years later; the released film never does, a loose end that hangs over Michael alone with everything in Part II. Apollonia's death is the moment Sicily stops being a refuge and becomes the place that made Michael ruthless.
Frequently asked questions
Who planted the bomb that killed Apollonia? Fabrizio, one of Michael's Sicilian bodyguards, working for Michael's enemies.
Who was the bomb meant for? Michael. Apollonia died because she started the car before he reached it.
Did Michael remarry? Yes — he married Kay Adams after returning to America.
Keep reading: How Sonny Corleone died · The baptism scene, explained · The Godfather ending, explained · How Did Luca Brasi Die in The Godfather? · Was the Horse Head in The Godfather Real? · Why Do Oranges Appear Before Death in The Godfather?
From the shop: Funny Godfather Parody Mob Tee — an offer your wardrobe cannot refuse, Corleone style.
Join the conversation
Still thinking about this one? That is exactly what The Social Club is for. It is the MobstersDaily Discord, and it is the best Sopranos community on the internet: serious Sopranos talk, meme wars, Friday movie nights, a casino, and an arcade, all run by fans who never stopped rewatching. If you want to be part of the Sopranos community, this is where it lives.
