Criticism of the 1997 Othello Movie: A Concise Description of the Film Adaptation

A Concise Description Of The Film Adaptation

        The Warner Brother’s film, directed by Oliver Parker starring Lawerence Fishburne [Othello], Irene Jacobs [Desdemona] and Kenneth Branagh [Iago] was the 1995 adaptation of William Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’ the moor of Venice.  

The film begins in Venice at night with the elopement of Desdemona and Othello with Roderigo and the antagonist Iago watching on. This marriage sparks issue with the girl’s father (who found out about it from Iago, Othello’s lieutenant). The couple is brought before the Duke, who agrees to let the couple be since Othello is a ‘good man’.

 Iago, as the film continues exposes himself to be a manipulative man using Roderigo to his advantage since he had been in love with Desdemona (whilst robbing him of his money) Iago also reveals in a soliloquy that he cares about no one’s interest but his own; planning to use them all to ruin Othello. Being a true puppeteer, Iago manipulates Roderigo to fight with Cassio resulting in him being stripped of his position (coincediently, we see Iago in a later scene, wearing Cassio’s armour showing him elevating in the army due to Cassio’s demotion) He of course used this to another advantage by convincing Cassio to go to Desdemona to help, who in her naiveté did.

        Iago convinces Othello, using the fact that Desdemona tries to help Cassio, igniting jealously and anger to a maddening level causing him to abuse her verbally. He is also the cause of a character’s death, in his attempt to kill Cassio he sets Roderigo up to kill the Cassio but this only results in Roderigo being murdered and Iago living for a little while longer.

        As the willow song plays, Othello enters the room in which his wife was, blowing out the candles, and suffocates her despite her pleas of innocence. Emilia enters in search of her mistress, realising her mistress is dead, confronts Othello and exposes what her husband has done. By then, Lodovico and others have entered the room but her own husband kills her. Then restrained by the other men in the room, Othello realises his mistake, attacks Iago but doesn’t kill him. After apologising to Cassio, the man passes Othello a knife which he uses to kill Iago and himself. Cassio is awarded position of general. Conclusively, the four (Emilia, Iago, Othello, Desdemona) all die on the bed, laying beside each other. Emilia at her mistress’ side and Iago by his general’s.