Othello

Desdemona, the daughter of a Venetian aristocrat, runs away with the Moorish general Othello, arousing Iago’s jealousy and resentment. Familiar with the hero’s weaknesses, Iago manipulates him through suspicions and intrigues that gradually lead Othello into mistrust and emotional ruin. An adaptation of William Shakespeare’s tragedy of the same name, Othello is one of Orson Welles’s most personal projects, in which he directed, produced and played the lead role. Although historically significant, the film reflects racial portrayal conventions of the time that today require critical scrutiny.