Imaginative Journey - Moulin Rouge
“Moulin Rouge” is an imaginary, dreamlike passionate account, in musical style, of two young lovers, who face many obstacles and challenges in order to stay together. Christian, the male protagonist plays a young wannabe Bohemian poet living in 1899 Paris, defies his father by joining the colourfully diverse clique inhabiting the dark, fantastical underworld of Paris’ now legendary Moulin Rouge. He and his new bohemian friends want to sell a show to the Moulin Rouge and its impresario wants a backer so he can build a proper theatre. He’s plying a duke, who wants exclusive access to the favours of Satine, the Moulin Rouge’s consumptive star. She wants to be a ‘real’ actress, so the duke’s offer is fine – except that she and Christian fall in love. The film was made in 2001, and reflects this context throughout, by means of musical techniques and costumes and modern mis-en-scene techniques. The film is set in turn-of-the-century Paris, among the grimiest streets, home to the Bohemian avant-, transforming the likes of Toulouse Letrec and his seedy bunch of miscreant friends into heroes within the folds of this multi-layered visual story. Then, these unlikely characters danced around in a hallucinatory fashion, as
Digital enhancement was used to stun an almost ordinary effect by creating and entire unworldly setting where the audience can readily suspend their belief. Sound was also engineered to the utmost effect, with cartoon-like noises punctuating movements, which, by some act of wizardry remained tasteful and consistent, especially in the scene where a play idea is presented to the Duke. Some of the scenes appear to have been filmed through a smoky, tea-stained filter. In others, the flashing lights, images and colours are dizzying and spectacular. The imaginative genre is captured very well, as in many scenes the camera encapsulates a larger than life fast moving past, and whips around in a whimsical manner, creating a spectacular end result. The film helps us shape an understanding of imaginative journey through the life of its female protagonist Satine. We see her develop from a showgirl performing in a bordello to a more settled mature woman in love. We visually see a change in Satine, from wearing trademark colours such as white, red and black to when she is with Christian, more neutral colours, brown etc. Every moment of the film, sink or swim, feels infused with love of showmanship, love of highwire creativity and love for the cinema itself. Moulin Rouge is not a perfect film, but the cinema is first and foremost a visual medium. On that level alone, this dazzling concoction is worth more than dozens combined. part of 50’s musical, but irrepressibly visually 2001. The soundtrack is entirely made up of popular songs. Moul
Some topics in this essay:
Moulin Rouge,
Bohemian Satine,
Moulin Rouge’s,
,
Toulouse Letrec,
moulin rouge,
Hammerstein Christian,
social classes,
imaginative journey,
fall apart,
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Approximate Word count = 1036
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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