Francis Ford Copppla was the picture of contentment in
Seattle this week. He seemed to be the perfect embodiment
of a man very much at ease with his lot in life. Perhaps
that’s what comes from having made the Godfather films and
Apocalypse Now. Or from having made a fortune in the wine
business. Or maybe it’s having recently turned 70 years of
age that gives him his air of equanimity.

Whatever the reason, Coppola was downright ebullient at
times during our interview. He not only was engaged and
engaging, he was also remarkably friendly and reflective.
A natural born talker who puts everyone in his presence at
ease, Coppola, I imagine, must be a great dinner party
host, although he’d be a great guest as well. He caught me
a bit off guard when he told me he felt like he was six
years old inside, but the longer you talk to him the more
sense it makes. His boyish enthusiasm for life is
infectious. (Special thanks to MyNorthwest.com
videographer Jamie Griswold who accompanied me to the W
Hotel for the interview.)