What is Moulin Rouge! about?
Moulin Rouge! is a lavish spectacle that begins in 1900 and flashes back to one year ago in Paris during the bohemian revolution. Bohemianism is the practice of an unconventional lifestyle in the company of like-minded individuals pursuing freedom, beauty, truth, and love through art. This cultural transformation inspires the main character Christian to abandon his home in England and move to a small, ramshackle garret in Monmarte—a ‘village of sin’—and pursue his poetry. The film juxtaposes the bohemians’ penniless and hungry existence with the glittering opulence of the Moulin Rouge nightclub, a large dance hall that hosted courtesans and can-can dancer performances. It is a creative, romantic, and wild bevy of adventure and erotica. The Parisian landscapes are created through CGI, giving them an artificial look that juxtaposes the impressively detailed sets.
Moulin Rouge! is narrated by Christian, a young man who defies his father by moving to Paris to become a poet during the Bohemian Revolution in 1899. He meets a diverse group of artists who quickly whisk him away to the legendary Moulin Rouge—a seedy but glamorous haven of sex, alcohol, and sparkling electric lights. It is an orgy of aristocrats, artists, can-can dancers, and prostitutes. It is there that he meets and begins a passionate affair with Satine, the biggest star and most desired courtesan. During the production of Christian’s musical Spectacular Spectacular, Christian and Satine must hide their passionate love from the Duke, the club’s highest patron who also funds the show and pays for Satine’s affections. Yet not even Christian and Satine’s enduring love can conquer a deadly secret that threatens Satine’s life.
Christian is a hopeless romantic and genius poet who believes wholeheartedly in the power of love; life is meaningless without it and it gives you purpose. He is an optimistic, earnest innocent who falls hard for Satine, the “sparkling diamond” of the Moulin Rouge, the nightclub’s most sought-after courtesan. Unlike Christian, Satine is worldly and jaded about the true existence of love. While cynical about romance, she has passionate dreams about ‘flying away’ from the Moulin Rouge and finding a better life as a ‘real actress.’
Since she sells her body and affection to the highest bidder, Satine transforms into whatever a man wants, whether it be a wilting flower or a smoldering temptress. Only with Christian can she be her authentic self. Satine is pursued by the Duke, a sniveling, insecure man who pays for Satine’s companionship. Underneath the humor of his persnickety nature is selfish cruelty. Satine’s closest confidante and manager is Harold Zidler, a gregarious showman that cares for Satine but ultimately has an obligation to the Duke’s happiness to keep the Moulin Rouge afloat. There is a host of colorful supporting characters that are fellow bohemians and can-can dancers, one of them based on the famous artist Toluse Latrec.
The literary influences of Moulin Rouge!
Moulin Rouge! draws influence from many literary traditions. The main story takes from the Greek tragedy of Orpheus and Eurydice. Christian is Orpheus, a genius musician who descends into the hellish underworld of prostitution to rescue Satine from the clutches of the diabolical Duke. The film also borrows from the tragic romances of Camille and La Boheme where a female courtesan falls ill of consumption just after she finds her true love. There are elements of Shakespeare as well; similar to Romeo and Juliet, Christian and Satine are star-crossed lovers, but only one of them meets a tragic end. Much like the Bard’s work, Moulin Rouge! oscillates between highly emotional tragedy and silly comedy throughout. As a musical, the story is driven by the use of songs. The characters vocalizing their intense emotions through music allows the audience to easily identify with them.
Baz Lurhmann's directorial style
Baz Lurhmann’s filmography includes many other romantic melodramas such as Romeo + Juliet, Australia, and The Great Gatsby. His directorial style is unlike any other filmmaker; flamboyant and eccentric, Lurhmann makes daring visual choices that are the exact opposite of naturalism. Lurhmann’s use of rapid editing, fast-paced stories, and shots with bizarre angles creates a chaotic aesthetic that may not appeal to everyone. His films are much like costumes his longtime collaborator and wife Catherine Martin creates: dramatic, vivid, and decadent.
The performances in Moulin Rouge!
Moulin Rouge! relies on the incredible chemistry between Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman to make their overwhelming romance believable. Nicole Kidman uses her feather-light voice and elegant physicality to portray a regal but broken young woman who is always performing for others. She excels in the bawdy comedy scenes where Satine dons different sexual identities and pretends to be emotionally unstable. Ewan McGregor brings his winning smile and gentle sensitivity to the role, making his immediate adoration for Satine completely genuine. Both actors ground the ostentatious film in their completely authentic and impassioned performances. They are perfectly attuned to the film’s high dramatic stakes and theatrical humor.
The visual trademarks of Moulin Rouge!
Moulin Rouge! is known for its kaleidoscope of striking colors. Baz Luhrman often uses these bold colors to express a particular mood: the deep blues in the opening reflect Christian’s sadness over Satine’s death, the shining green of mind-altering absinthe, and the velvet reds of seduction in Satine’s room. The finale is a grand explosion of rainbow colors and sparkling diamonds. Like the majority of Baz Luhrman’s films, the editing is kinetic, rapidly moving between hyper-speed and slow-motion or tight close-ups and landscape shots. The camera often whirls through space, untethered from any visual logic as if under the Green Fairy’s spell. This dizzying visual aesthetic conveys the raucous party atmosphere of Paris’ most popular nightclub scene during the nineteenth century.
The sound design of Moulin Rouge!
Moulin Rouge! is a pastiche musical that uses well-known contemporary music in its nineteenth-century narrative. The use of anachronistic music is meant to convey Christian’s poetic genius and the thrill of Moulin Rouge’s hedonistic nightlife that old-fashioned can-can music would not get across. The song lyrics are used as dialogue to propel the story. The soundtrack is a jukebox of renowned songs and artists such as Queen’s “The Show Must Go On,” Madonna’s “Material Girl” and “Like a Virgin,” Elton John’s “Your Song,” The Beatles’ “All You Need is Love,” “Roxanne” by the Police, and so much more. One of the only original compositions in the film is the soaring love ballad “Come What May.” There is a notable Bollywood influence in the “Hindi Sad Diamonds” medley that occurs during the Spectacular Spectacular production. Craig Armstrong’s sweeping score in between these songs keeps viewers tied to the highly emotional journey.
What kind of mood does Moulin Rouge! have?
Moulin Rouge! is a grandiose musical that tugs on viewers’ heartstrings. The film feels like a roller coaster ride of emotions, jostling between raucous comedy, a whirlwind romance, and devastating tragedy within a short amount of time. The music along with the melodramatic thrills of star-crossed lovers and a love triangle that culminates in a tragic end carries the audience’s heightened feelings, moving them from uplifting excitement to devastating sorrow.
What genre does Moulin Rouge! fall under?
Moulin Rouge! is primarily a musical romance that mixes elements of melodrama and comedy. It has its roots in the structure of classic Hollywood musicals, the hijinks of vaudeville, and the magnified emotions of opera. Much of its style is drawn from the musicals of Old Hollywood such as Singin’ in the Rain or Gentleman Prefer Blondes: the bombshell lead actress with a commanding presence, a heated romance, the luxurious costumes, and the bright Technicolor vistas. Mostly, Moulin Rouge! reflects these classic musicals in the epic, show-stopping musical numbers that are large-scale with giant sets and a multitude of dancers.
How would an audience react to this film?
Like the majority of Baz Luhrman’s work, Moulin Rouge! is a visual feast for the eyes that moves at a breakneck pace. Some may see the film as an eyesore because there is too much going on within a single frame. Often, Luhrmann moves so fast that you do not get a chance to fully take in the splash of vibrant colors and majestic sets. However, this brisk style perfectly captures the wild extravagance of the Moulin Rouge’s party atmosphere and the sweeping power of true love. Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor’s performances are the heart of the film; they make Satine and Christian’s connection so deep and enthralling that you almost forget their story will end tragically.