Moulin Rouge: An Expression of Love Through Music

In the spectacular movie, Moulin Rouge, Bazz Luhrmann created a formalistic musical about freedom, beauty, truth and most especially, love. In this movie, he creates a fictional storyline about love relative to a few historical events that occurred during the early 1900's in Paris' well-known nightclub, The Moulin Rouge. Although the events all through out the movie are portrayed in a sense of fantasy through a remarkably choreographed comic musical and melodrama, Luhrmann is still able to make it exceptionally and passionately manipulative of its audience. Furthermore, its music is strongly relative to its theme: Love can overcome all obstacles.

One scene in this movie wherein the sound aspect, specifically musical and melodrama, clearly stands out is the "Elephant Love Medley" scene. This scene is very formalistic because it makes no pretense at realism. Like music, wherein most people rely on to retire in their difficult moments, this scene is a form of escapism as well. Here, Christian, who is played by Ewan McGregor, persuades Satine, who is played by Nicole Kidman, to be with him through singing and dancing. Luhrmann uses a melody of the most popular love songs of the twentieth century to perfectly describe Christian's feelings for Satine. It is an extreme and unusual way of expressing love that does not occur in one's daily life. This signifies his ability go to extreme lengths to express his love for Satine; in this case, through singing love songs.

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Moreover, in this melodramatic scene, Luhrmann successfully heightens the intense emotions generated by conflicts between Christian and Satine, who represent very clear defined moral positions, through music. In the beginning of the scene, Christian argues with Satine about falling in love. After breaking into song and dance, Satine is slowly drawn into believing in what he's singing and starts singing as well. The music seemed to have manipulated her. She entirely allows herself to consider falling in love with him. The music does not only indicate Christian's longing for her but also, Satine's acceptance of his proposal. This means that anything is possible with love.

This movie is a fantasy that is filled with hope, bliss, absurdity, comedy and drama, all portrayed in a musical, which brings reality into a halt. However, Luhrmann is able to make its viewers believe