I love movies which make me cry. I like that feeling that is growing inside me when I start to feel characters' emotions, think for and with them and pray that all ends well.
The Ghost, One Flew Over Cuckoo's Nest, La vita e bella, Edward Scissorhands are only some on my list of movies to cry to. And Moulin Rouge of course. I'm not a mazohist, although I enjoy horrors especially because of the fact that I'm completely terrified after watching them. But isn't it a movie's purpose to bring out any emotions in its viewer? A movie which doesn't cause a certain feeling and effect is a failed one.
And this one caused so many.
Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love. It's all about that.
When Christian, a young English writer came to Paris with the idea to follow the believes of its Bohemian revolution, he couldn't even imagine where would his free minded view take him (Freedom and Truth). After meeting a group of French artists, he agrees to write a play which would ensure the security of Moulin Rouge, the most popular meeting place of that time, place where people enjoy, where free love is celebrated and where men are allowed to do almost everything they want. A rich duke is the one the future of Moulin Rouge and its residents depends on. The only problem is that the duke and Christian have opposite views about the play. And the main reason is a woman, a beautiful courtisane Satine, the biggest star of Moulin Rouge (Beauty). She and Christian fall in love immediately, but must hide their relationship from the duke who, on the other hand, wants Satine for himself. But this isn't the biggest problem in the movie.
"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just love and be loved in return" - this is the sentence Christian repeats to Satine during the movie. Slowly she begins to believe that. A woman who was always in the centre of attention, as a man's granted wish, as someone who will make your dreams come true, but a girl who has never been loved and adored, a girl who doesn't know that feeling. She is willing to give up everything to be with the man she loves (Love). But she can't avoid her destiny.
This sad story is told through numerous famous songs, which are interpreted by great actors (and singers). Heroes (David Bowie), Your Song (Elton John), Roxanne (a masterpiece which outshines the Police original), Up where we belong (Joe Cocker) and many more are mostly sung by Ewan McGregor, which definitely bedazzles with his vocal abilities and talent. Nicole Kidman and Jim Broadbent mustn's be forgotten too, giving two extraordinary performaces as Satine and Harold Zidler, the owner of Moulin Rouge. The scenography and costimography make this movie a visual masterpiece (and gained it 2 Oscars,too).
A movie which fills your heart with both sorrow and happiness, convinces you that true love really exists and that it is worth fighting for is definitely a movie which should be on your to see list, especially if you love musicals.
In my opinion this was the movie that should get the Oscars it got nominated for. The Oscars that havent's been given to Moulin Rouge, went to Chicago one year after, to a mediocre film, with mediocre performance and a mediocre story. But, awards are not what makes a movie. The story it tells is much more important and this one is with no doubt worth your time.
Sit down next to your significant other, with a pack of paper tissues and enjoy this visual and audial piece of candy. And just love ;)
LovelyT
