Soon after the release of Macbeth in 1948, American director Orson Welles (Citizen Kane, Touch of Evil) decided to adapt another Shakespeare play, Othello. The film’s shoot was fraught
with pitfalls, including the original producer going bankrupt and unforeseen cast changes, leading Welles to suspend filming several times. Yet, the result is an astounding and breathtakingly
beautiful adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy.

The actor-director, assisted by renowned production designer Alexandre Trauner, glorifies each shot of his Othello with clever contrasts between shadow and light. The film is a masterpiece of unique aesthetics, earning a well-deserved Palme d’Or in Cannes in 1952, and today serves as a reminder of Welles’ genius.