Othello (1951)

Orson Welles’s “Othello”

Thematic Elements: 

Welles tells the story of a man who is given power, only to be lead astray and corrupted by the people closest to him. Othello throughout the story is manipulated into believing a lie for the purposes of his own demise. Welles is pointing to the notion that people in power cannot ever truly trust anyone. For the intentions of everyone around you will only lead of paranoia about their true intentions. Iago uses this paranoia to his own advantage and further intentionally uses Othello’s paranoia against him. Othello’s paranoia and Iago’s manipulation are both causes of the ultimate quest for power. The quest can only give sinister selfish intentions for those who seek it. The unyielding thirst for power allows you and everyone after it the immorality to deceive, corrupt, and backstab. Power is like a spider-web, trapping its prey to succumb to its chaotic madness. 

Camerawork: 

Welles was constantly filming characters behind bars as if to suggest that they are perpetually trapped throughout the film. They are trapped by their own future demises, all will be manipulated or lead astray, all will be trapped by their paranoid way of thinking. Welles also uses frenetic energy throughout moments of action or chaos, both internal and external chaos. He portrays movement throughout the castle as winding and labyrinthian, as is to suggest that the vast castle is sturdy and towering on the outside but full of deception and dizzying conspiracy on the inside. He uses this camerawork well to demonstrate that once placed in power, you are trapped by the people manipulating you as well as your own delusions and paranoia. 

Best Shot: 

One of the best shots of the film is the opening shot. The opening shot tells us immediately that Othello’s story has a tragic ending. It tells us that every decision Othello makes is only getting him further and further into the spider’s web. There is no escaping the trapped circumstances of Othello’s descent into paranoia and mistrust and will ultimately end his power and his life. This shot also looks like it may have inspired Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal 6 years later.