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Othello is a 1995 film based on William Shakespeare's tragedy of the same name. It was directed by Oliver Parker and stars Laurence Fishburne as Othello, Irène Jacob as Desdemona, and Kenneth Branagh as Iago. This is the first cinematic reproduction of the play that casts an actor of African descent to play the role of Othello. The film saw highly limited release, having been shown in only a few theatres, as a result of which it only grossed US$2.8 million. This version is notable for particularly powerful performances by all actors and an uncannily realistic visual style.

Othello
Promotional poster for Othello
Directed by	Oliver Parker
Produced by	David Barron
Written by	William Shakespeare
Starring	Laurence Fishburne Irène Jacob Kenneth Branagh Nathaniel Parker Michael Maloney Anna Patrick
Cinematography	David Johnson
Editing by	Tony Lawson
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures Castle Rock Entertainment
Release date(s)	December 15, 1995
Running time	123 min.
Language	English
IMDb profile

This film is an adaptation of William Shakespeare's Othello. Othello is a Moor who has left his hometown Venice to fight against the Turks on the island of Cyprus. During the battle, he was accompanied by his faithful lieutenant, Cassio. As the film opens, Othello is returning to Venice from the long fight against the Turks. With much excitement, he meets with his love, Desdemona.

Iago, Othello's trusted companion, envies Othello's life and plans to ruin it by manipulating Othello into believing that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio and is pregnant with Cassio's child. He arouses Othello's suspicion and jealousy gradually, and then plants Desdemona's handkerchief in Cassio's clothing for Othello to find. When he does, he is convinced of Desdemona's infidelity and, in a rage, decides to kill both her and Cassio.

Othello smothers Desdemona, who dies just as Iago's wife, Emilia, enters the bedroom. Emilia then tells Othello the truth behind Iago's lies and he realises what he has done. In despair, Othello stabs and wounds Iago. Othello then kills himself, and Iago loses all reputation and is branded as an enemy of Venice.

• Envy, greed, jealousy and love.

• Othello at the Internet Movie Database