Moulin Rouge by Luhrmann: Classical Mythology, Modern Music, and Archetypal Characters to Convey Contrasting Attitudes toward Love
How has Luhrmann reflected and represented classical mythology, modern music and archetypal characters to convey the contrasting attitudes to love in his film Moulin Rouge?
Truth, beauty, freedom and above all: love; these are the key principles of the bohemian revolution. Luhrmann represents and portrays these themes in a variety of different ways throughout Moulin Rouge. The film has strong links with the Orpheus myth giving Moulin Rouge a predictable, yet classic storyline. Through the use of archetypal characters, modern music and classical mythology along with symbolism throughout the film, Luhrmann creates a very unique representation on attitudes towards love in Moulin Rouge.
The opening sequence of the film is and establishing shot in black and white creating a sense of foreboding and informing the audience from the start of the film that something sinister is going to happen. The black and white shot takes the audience through Montmartre and consists of images of people who appear badly intoxicated with vacant, expressionless expressions. As the shot moves to Christian’s room, the first things to appear in colour are the words “L’amour” meaning “love” in French. Christian is then shown sitting miserably in the corner of his room with at least eight empty bottles of alcohol scattered around him. After a close up shot of Christian it is shown that his face is half in shadow representing darkness in Christian’s life. This is then followed by an image of a dusty typewriter with the word “Underwood” engraved at the top. This is likely to be an allusion to Underworld, linking to the Orpheus myth.
During Christians Voice over of the Moulin Rouge, he describes the women as young and “beautiful creatures of the underworld” and describes the men as the rich and powerful, depicting the club as an incredibly wild place alludes to the Moulin Rouge being like the underworld.
As Christian is shown after first arriving in Paris he narrates how he moved to pursue
Truth, beauty, freedom and above all: love; these are the key principles of the bohemian revolution. Luhrmann represents and portrays these themes in a variety of different ways throughout Moulin Rouge. The film has strong links with the Orpheus myth giving Moulin Rouge a predictable, yet classic storyline. Through the use of archetypal characters, modern music and classical mythology along with symbolism throughout the film, Luhrmann creates a very unique representation on attitudes towards love in Moulin Rouge.
The opening sequence of the film is and establishing shot in black and white creating a sense of foreboding and informing the audience from the start of the film that something sinister is going to happen. The black and white shot takes the audience through Montmartre and consists of images of people who appear badly intoxicated with vacant, expressionless expressions. As the shot moves to Christian’s room, the first things to appear in colour are the words “L’amour” meaning “love” in French. Christian is then shown sitting miserably in the corner of his room with at least eight empty bottles of alcohol scattered around him. After a close up shot of Christian it is shown that his face is half in shadow representing darkness in Christian’s life. This is then followed by an image of a dusty typewriter with the word “Underwood” engraved at the top. This is likely to be an allusion to Underworld, linking to the Orpheus myth.
During Christians Voice over of the Moulin Rouge, he describes the women as young and “beautiful creatures of the underworld” and describes the men as the rich and powerful, depicting the club as an incredibly wild place alludes to the Moulin Rouge being like the underworld.
As Christian is shown after first arriving in Paris he narrates how he moved to pursue