Although Iago has nearly convinced Iago by simply telling him lies, he knows that he needs more if he is to fully convince him. Then, out of complete luck, his wife steals Desdemona’s handkerchief, which Othello had given her, and he attached a lot of emotional value to. Iago then proceeds to leave this handkerchief in Cassio’s house, and later refers to it, and tells Othello to ask Desdemona does she still have it. Othello then has a go at Iago, telling him that he should not have said anything, he says, “I swear ‘tis better to be much abused than but to know’t a little.” Iago then tells Othello that, he was in bed beside Cassio, and Cassio kissed him, put his leg over him, and said “Sweet Desdemona let us be wary, let us hide our loves!”
At the end of the scene Othello plots to kill both Cassio and Desdemona. He has been completely turned by Iago’s lies, and believes that Desdemona and Cassio are having an affair.
Oliver Parker obviously thought thoroughly about the casting, as the cast adds greatly to the Shakespeare experience. It was obviously important that the actors were comfortable with the sometimes complicated language, and must have considered this, as all the actors look as if they have always talked in the unique Shakespeare tongue. For the part of Iago, he selected Kenneth Branagh, this was a wise choice, as he has substantial experience at Shakespeare. This meant that he could perform his lines in the suitable tone, and he could sustain the audience, as they did not get to caught up in the language but in the facial expression, and the different tones, and textures to Kenneth’s voice. The part of Othello was played by an American actor called Lawrence Fishbourne, he was by far the most famous actor in the play, and it added something to the film, that you knew one of the actors, and had seen their other films. He was the first black actor to play Othello on screen, and this helped, as obviously as he was black he looked just as you thought Othello would. Lawrence also executed his lines well, and adapted better than I myself had expected to the Shakespearean language, he again captured the audience, with the change of tone, and the great use of body movement, and facial expression. Lawrence also covered up his American accent well, as this would not be appropriate with the Shakespearean language. He also had a shaven head, a muscle-bound body, and scars on his head, this gives the feel of a warrior, which was what Othello was, adding to the realism of the play. He also looks foreign, again what Othello was. The other main part was Desdemona who was played by Irene Jacobs. Irene Jacobs is a lesser known, Belgium actress, who added a European flavour. The play was meant to be Venetian’s, who were in Cyprus, to fight against Turkey, Desdemona’s accent makes this more believable. Irene is also a very beautiful, innocent looking girl, adding to the fact that she would never betray her husband. She also delivers her lines well, in an untheatrical way and very naturally. A lot of the other actors, for example those who played Roderigo, the Duke and Brabantio also had a European accent, again adding to the European feeling.
Parker uses all modern cinema techniques available to him, to make the film more suitable for the modern audience.
One such technique that Oliver Parker used frequently, and successfully was the use of costume. Othello had many colourful costumes, with long glittery earrings, and colourful bandannas which underlines Othello’s position in society, as a high ranked, and well respected soldier. Desdemona is also dressed in many colourful dresses, and this again shows her importance in society, as Othello’s wife. In complete contrast Iago wears one dull brown costume throughout, this shows his place as Othello’s servant. However there is great irony, as someone who is seen as low, and less significant i.e. Iago, can control the whole play, and the well being of all the characters. So also is his wife Emilia dressed in humble clothes, showing her low place, as Desdemona’s servant.
Act 3 scene 3, in all contains 478 lines of speech, Parker cut a large fraction of these out, however he still kept the main lines, and he did by cutting out lines he did not compromise the plot of the play. Furthermore a lot of these lines need not be in the film, as they can be show by images or props. In the play, all 478 are performed in the citadel, whereas in the film there is fewer lines, and many changes of landscape. At the start of Act 3, scene 3, Iago and Othello are walking down the steps to Desdemona and Emilia, there is a sense of elegance, and good will, pathetic fallacy is also used, as there is bright sunshine. The next change in location, is down to the yard, were the two men are pole fighting, still bright and sunny. Also two things underline Othello’s supremacy to Iago, at that current moment of the film, first Othello is wearing an expensive leather costume, with a bright orange bandanna, and in the pole fight he knocks Iago to the ground. However, that is all to change. The two men then go down a narrow flight of stairs, and the further down they go the darker it gets, a hint that the further on this scene goes the darker it will also get. The longest part of the scene is spent in the armoury, were it is a lot darker, and very bare, with no furniture or ornaments, simply guns, and other dull metal objects, this is to add to the darkness. This tells us that the whole film is about to get darker. The camera at this point focuses heavily on facial expression, that of both Iago and Othello. Iago looks like a wide-eyed, innocent servant, while at the same time he is corrupting Othello’s mind with thoughts of Cassio and Desdemona having an affair. In the armoury scene the music rises, as you can see, but not hear Iago talking in Othello’s ear. This is a reference to a remark made by Iago in Act 1, where he says, “I will pour my pestilence into his ear.” Simultaneously a high pitch note reaches a crescendo, suggesting that there will be such an ending to this film. The music lightens when Othello says, “I’ll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove,” however the music darkens again, as Iago tries to corrupt Othello’s thoughts. Music is a technique used throughout by Parker. He uses it to create an ominous atmosphere, and also to create a happy one. He uses all sorts, for example, high-pitched notes, base notes and melodious tunes.
The next scene, is darker again than the last. It is when Othello is getting dressed for the banquet. When Iago is buttoning Othello’s collar it is obvious that Othello is in deep thought about what Iago said, and is very gloomy and seems to be in a daze. In this scene it is completely dark, with the exception, of the light coming from a single candle. After Emilia steals the handkerchief, which Othello had given Desdemona, she enters the bedroom in which she and Iago stay, Iago is lying on the bed. This scene is in complete contrast to the love scenes earlier in the film, between Othello and Desdemona. Emilia tells Iago she has something for him, and he replies, “It is a common thing,” he is implying sex. He uses crude language, and it is not love but simply sex. He then has intercourse with her, after she presents him the handkerchief, and it is crude, and vulgar. The room is also dull and dirty, this is not exactly a romantic setting. The handkerchief is used as a powerful piece of evidence in the film, this makes it more realistic to the audience that Othello believes him, as he has material proof. All the handkerchief scenes are silent, as if it speaks for itself. The first scene is when Emilia lifts it, then when Iago throws it in the air during intercourse with Emilia. The next handkerchief scene is in Cassio’s lodging, where Iago leaves it. Another scene about the handkerchief, is a scene from act 4, however Parker brings it forward to the 3rd scene, it is where Othello asks Desdemona does she still have the handkerchief. However this scene, convinces Othello, that her and Cassio are having an affair, as after saying she does not know, she then pleads with Othello to give Cassio his job back.
Then next location, is the beach. Othello and Iago are there, and in a soliloquy Iago tells how his lies are affecting Othello. The beach emphasises that they are on an Island, with fewer people, so it is realistic that Iago’s plan could work, as if they were in Venice there would be so many people it would be hard to con them all. Parker dramatises this scene, as Othello tries to drown Iago, this does not happen in the play. This is a climax in the scene, however Iago talks his way out of it, and puts Othello in the wrong. This is were he tells of Cassio sleep talking, about how much he loved Desdemona, this is only words, but Othello believes his loyal (or so he thinks) servant. Parker’s addition to the scene, of Iago being drowned b Othello, shows exactly how he tries throughout to make the play more enjoyable to the modern audience. By adding in this very exciting event, it holds the audience’s attention, as they are used to such action from many other modern day films.
The last scene in act 3 scene 3, is the darkest of all. It takes place on the ramparts. Othello marches about as if a man in turmoil. Pathetic fallacy is used again, as there is a hint of a storm on the way, this suggests that there will be a climax in the film and this happens. Othello gets on his knee and looks to heaven saying, “arise black vengeance from hollow hell.” The getting on his knee suggests that he is cancelling his marriage vows, and so also does the looking to heaven. Iago then pledges to help Othello, and is made Lieutenant, which is why Iago started this conniving conspiracy, this continuation of this plan, shows that he was a man who was motivelessly evil. This scene is quite frightening, were they swear brotherhood, and cut hands to be blood brothers, this is very cult like, and barbaric. Also Iago has a look on his face, of remorse, as if for a split second he thought about stopping the whole plan, and this is completely different to Shakespeare were there is no mention of remorse. This remorse lets the audience relate to Iago a little more, as he seems to have some conscience. They also use very bleak, dark language such as “arise black vengeance from hollow hell”. This increases the tension for what is going to happen, and this is what modern film watchers need, excitement, and tension. In this scene Othello curses Desdemona saying, “Damn her, lude minx!” This suggests at what is going to happen. Iago then says “I am yours for ever,” Parker uses dramatic irony, this is when the audience knows what a character is up to, but the other characters do not.
Another technique that Parker uses commonly, is that of flashback, and dream. This allows Parker to express what Othello is feeling, without having Othello say anything, so it still reads like the play. All the dreams and flashbacks are silent, accompanied by music, and to underline their significance they are in slow motion. They are also hazy, and not clear, this is to underline that they are dreams. He frequently uses one of Cassio and Desdemona together in bed, it is discrete, and romantic, in these particular dreams he puts a hint of red on the bed, as red is associated with whores, this is also confirms how strong Othello’s feelings of jealousy are, as his dream of this is exactly the same as him and Desdemona at the start of the play, so he sees Cassio as taking his position. The only dream with words is that of Brabantio saying, “She has deceived her father, and may thee.” This is significant, as it confirmation that Desdemona could do such a thing, as she has do it before, to her own father, so it is another piece of proof used to make Othello’s killing of Desdemona seem more reasonable to the audience.
I think that Oliver Parker translated Act 3 Scene 3 on to the screen very effectively. Through the use of modern cinema techniques, he portrayed the true plot as Shakespeare had intended it, and still created a film very suitable for the modern film audience. I thoroughly enjoyed the film, and I believe so would anyone else, especially if they could appreciate the time spent to alter Othello the play, to create Othello the film.
