Othello (1995)

Othello remains one of Shakespeare's most popular plays to be produced even today. Perhaps this is because of the themes it explores, multiple these which often remain relevent regardless of the era. The most prominent of these for modern audiences are the racial themes playing through the narrative. These, for us today, are often of primary concern as we live in a time with some of the most open discussion of challenging racist assumptions history has seen. And one of the most troubling aspects of modern film adaptations is how often Hollywood felt comfortable casting white actors in the title role, most often employing blackface when white actors portrayed the Moor. Remarkably a black man wasn't cast in the role in a major film adaptation until 1995. And I would argue that fact in itself makes it the most relevant film adaptation of Othello so far.

Because Othello is about many themes, one especially is about alienation and the challenges in our culture of true inclusion. The idea of casting actors in blackface upends the ability for the story to communicate that effectively. Stage productions in the late 20th century and early 21st century have been playing with ways of exploring this, but films have a bad history with this story. Parker's take was revolutionary just by being true to the text in having an othered actor in the title role.

Parker wisely casts Fishburne at the height of his career. He is a strong actor and here he nails it bringing both the character's rich strengths and his tragic weaknesses to the fore. Because Othello is about more than just about race an actor of real power and range is required and Fishburne here is remarkable. Othello is also about masculinity and its failings, aggression and the pursuit of power. It is about how much of that intersects with race and otherness. It is about the abuse of women at the hands of men. It is one of the richest plays in Shakespeare's oeuvre for the intersections of quite complicated ideas. Parker and Fishburne prove up to that. Othello's arc of succumbing to his jealousy and suspicion is horribly tragic. He also fully portrays Othello's acceptance of his own responsibility for his evil actions, one of the few of Shakespeare's tragic heroes to truly do this. He plays all the layers and Parker sets out his story in a way that gives Fishburne the platform to do this effectively.

An equally clever choices was to cast today's most accomplished Shakespearian film actor as one of history's most fascinating villains. Branagh as Iago is perfect. Branagh can land on the theatrical side of things (no complains here) but in this film he remains rather understated which I feel is a good choice for Iago. Iago is often considered one of the best villains ever written. He is complex and frightening. Some say he is a portrait of pure evil while others see him with complicated motivations. Branagh gives us all that. He and Fishburne play off each other wonderfully. Iago here is a master manipulator, using the racism of the Venetians to his advantage, and using the toxic masculinity of Othello against himself. It is as if he can see all the failings of everyone around them and best play them to his advantage. He is evil here for his willingness to advance himself at the cost of all others, and to take pleasure in it.

Parker films his story in a dark, lush Venice which is gilded and elite. It is the powerful we are critiquing here, and those who seek power by cooperating with that power. The film happens mostly at night lit with candles and torches. It is all very romantic. And when the awful violence occurs it is horrible yet somehow fits into a world that is structured as such.

My main critique of this film would be its Desdemona. Parker doesn't do much to give her any agency and I feel the play needs that to be truly successful. She can't just be the victim. She isn't written that way. While Irene Jacob feels weak here I'm not sure if it is her or the film not giving her the scenes to flesh out her character. Here Emilia is given far more to do and say but even her relationships with Iago and Desdemona aren't fleshed out as much as I would have liked to see.

However other than that I love watching this film of Othello and honestly don't feel any version with a white actor in black face can rival it.

Othello
Starring: Laurence Fishburne, Kenneth Branagh, Irene Jacob, Michael Sheen
Director: Oliver Parker
Writers: William Shakespeare, Oliver Parker