The Godfather Part II: Lap dissolve

Transitions aren't just a means to transition between shots; it can be used to transition between settings and time. A prime example of this is in Francis Ford Copolla's The Godfather Part II. The film uses a lap dissolve (one scene dissolves out while the next comes into the view) to move from the era of Michael Corleone's reign back into the past to his father's time. The lap dissolve works to transition scenes, bridge time frames, and most importantly, works to draw parallel between Michael and Vito Corleone's lives.