SHAKESPEARE

Synopsis

Low-budget independent feature film. Ann and John appear happily married but, unknown to Ann, John is having an affair with Ann’s sister Cynthia. An old college friend of John, Graham, comes to visit and takes an interest in Ann. Ann visits Graham and discovers his vast collection of videotapes which contain his interviews with women about their sexual experiences. Cynthia accepts Graham’s invitation to interview her and she reveals that she is having an affair. The admission has its accusations of betrayal. R.S. White’s article (cited) argues that the film mirrors Othello in its central concerns of jealousy, lying, and voyeurism and ‘is at least arguably, a sophisticated and accurate contemporary derivative of Shakespeare’s play’.

Language

English

Country

United States

Medium

Film

Technical information

Colour / Sound

Year of release

1989

Duration

100 mins; 9,001 feet

Credits

Director

Steven Soderbergh

Producer

John Hardy; Robert Newmayer

Cinematographer

Walt Lloyd

Screenplay

Steven Soderbergh

Music

Larry Blake

Cast

Peter Gallagher	John Millaney (Othello)
Andie MacDowell	Ann Millaney (Desdemona)
James Spader	Graham Dalton (Iago)
Laura San Giacomo	Cynthia Bishop (Bianca)
Ron Vawter	Therapist

Additional Details

Production type

Fiction Films

Plays

Othello

Keywords

Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

Figures

The film grossed $100 million for an outlay of £1.8 million.

Awards

Cannes Film Festival 1989 - won the Golden Palm for Soderbergh and Best Actor for Spader.

Reviews

Ebert, Roger Chicago Sun-Times (August 1 1989).
White, R.S. ‘Sex, Lies, Videotape - and Othello’ in Keller, James R. & Stratyner, Leslie Almost Shakespeare: Reinventing His Works For Cinema and Television (McFarland & Co.: Jefferson, NC and London, 2004), pp 86-98.

Production Company

Name

Outlaw Productions

Address

USA

Distributor (Sale)

Name

Retail outlets