Postmodernism - Moulin Rouge

Fig 1.

Moulin Rouge (2001) Director: Baz Luhrmann.

In the late 1890's Christian (Ewan McGregor) is a writer leaves his home in London for seedy Montmartre, Paris to find his inspiration and discover a bohemian lifestyle and love. While there, due to a mistaken identity Christian finds himself falling in love with the courtesan Satine (Nicole Kidman). Although the love is mutual, their love affair is doomed from the start as Satine's future as an actress depends on her marrying The Duke (Richard Roxburgh).

Fig 2.

As a narrative 'Moulin Rouge' offers nothing new. It's the same story that's been recycled since Shakespears 'Romeo and Juliet', young couple fall in love and can't be together. Although this is the case the love story is still absorbing and makes you genuinly feel for the characters. What really sets 'Moulin Rouge' apart from the average love story is its postmodern twist, "post-modern mix of myth, musical, comedy, romance and unfettered pastiche" (Time Out, 2001) Throught the film the audience is delivered a montage of pop melodies from Nirvana to Madonna that have no tie to the time period of the film. In addition to music (which adds a huge comedy element) the editing it like something out of a cartoon and only makes for more comedy enjoyment. "Add flashy editing, lush production design and spectacular dance routines and the result is something akin to an extended music video" (BBC, 2001) Without these postmodern twists 'Moulin Rouge ' would have been a flat, dull, done to death story, but as it is, it's fun, it's ecstatic, and one of the most absorbing films I've seen.

Fig 3.

Trailer

Bibliography

Moulin Rouge, BBC, 2001, [Online] avaliable at http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2001/06/22/moulin_rouge_2001_review.shtml   [Accessed 19 October 2011]

Moulin Rouge, Timeout, 2001, [Online] avaliable at http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/73566/moulin_rouge.html [Accessed 19 October 2011]

Image Bibliography

Fig 1 . Moulin Rouge, DVD cover, 2001, [photography] http://cinephile.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/moulin-rouge.jpg?w=301&h=450

Fig 2 . Moulin Rouge, Movie Still, 2001, [photography] http://feedthebutton.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/moulin.jpg

Fig 3 . Moulin Rouge, Movie Still, 2001, [photography] http://images.picturesdepot.com/photo/m/moulin_rouge_movie-207798.jpg