Sixth Post - McGuirk

Moulin Rouge (2001)

Directed By: Baz Luhrmann

Moulin Rouge takes place in 1899 Paris where young British writer, Christain (Ewan McGregor), meets and falls in love with Satine (Nicole Kidman), star of the infamous Moulin Rouge. Their romance starts over a series of mistaken identities and becomes more real when Christian gets the job to write for the Moulin Rouge's first stage show. Their romance is threatened by the Duke (Richard Roxburgh), who wants Satine all to himself. This film is a beautiful example of tragic love story set to contemporary music. It is credit with bringing back musicals into today's popular movies.

Being a musical, the film brings a wonderful diverse aspect of sound. Most of it could be seen as diegetic sound, because the characters are singing or performing. In the world created, this is perfectly normal. Although set in 1899, the music is taken from today's popular music. It's mostly live music, since Luhrmann has stated that he prefers his actors to sing live instead of to a recording. Though some takes had to be looped due to problems.

Dialogue is quick and funny in the beginning of the film. Lines are delivered almost like they were being pounded into a typewriter; which is effective since Christian is narrating this story while he's writing it on his typewriter. As the story progresses into the second half, the dialogue because slower and more dramatic. It really changes the tone of the first half, which was quick and funny, to a more serious sad tone. The dialogue is just as powerful as the singing in making this adjustment.

The films sound effects are used to get the audience's attention; gun shots, fireworks, horns, gongs, etc. They would only have a natural place in this environment that is centered around a dance hall/theater. This film is even more fun to watch while just concentrating on its sound.