Othello the Play versus "O" the Movie

As I watched the film "O" today in class, I sometimes found it difficult to understand how certain events related to the play "Othello," while other parts were easily based off the play.

For example, I did not understand what the birds at the beginning of the movie had to do with the play. During the discussion, however, it was mentioned that the birds could symbolize Iago desiring to rise above everyone else and fly away like a bird.

The scene where Desi, Oden, Desi's father, and the coach were speaking in the coach's office was very much similar to the scene in 'Othello.' Desi's father was very upset to find out that Desi was "together" with Oden for four months. Brabantio was upset when he found out that Desdemona had married a Moor. I did not think that Brabantio in the play would have been as angry as Desi's father, but I think the director portrayed this scene well overall.

One scene which I did not see a parallel to "Othello" was when Oden beat up Mike. In the play, Othello never does anything dangerous to anyone, except Desdemona, when he kills her at the end. Until then, he does not beat anyone else up, but only gets angry.

Also, though Desi and Oden laid in bed together, this did not actually happen in Othello, but rather, it was implied. I thought it was interesting how the director of "O" placed this scene in the plot, even though Emilia's character was present.