Moulin Rouge! (2001)

Moulin Rouge! (2001) is a dazzling jukebox musical directed by Baz Luhrmann that blends extravagant visuals, modern pop music, and tragic romance into one unforgettable cinematic experience. Set in the bohemian underworld of 1899 Paris, the film tells a sweeping love story that’s equal parts spectacular and heartbreaking.

Detailed Summary

Welcome to the Moulin Rouge

The story begins with Christian (Ewan McGregor), a young, idealistic writer from England who moves to Paris in search of inspiration and the bohemian ideals of truth, beauty, freedom, and love. He soon finds himself drawn into the wild, hedonistic world of the Moulin Rouge, a famous nightclub and cabaret led by the flamboyant Harold Zidler (Jim Broadbent).

Christian becomes involved with a group of eccentric performers trying to pitch a show to Zidler. Their chaotic introduction leads to a mistaken identity that puts Christian face-to-face with the Moulin Rouge’s star courtesan: Satine (Nicole Kidman), also known as “The Sparkling Diamond.”

A Love Born in Secret

Initially, Satine mistakes Christian for a wealthy duke who is supposed to finance the Moulin Rouge’s transformation into a legitimate theater. But when the truth comes out, it’s too late—they’ve fallen for each other. Against all odds and despite Satine’s profession, the two begin a passionate secret affair.

To save the Moulin Rouge, Zidler secures funding from the powerful and possessive Duke of Monroth (Richard Roxburgh), who wants Satine for himself. He agrees to finance the club’s transformation—on the condition that Satine becomes his exclusive companion.

This triangle sets up the central conflict: Christian and Satine must hide their love while performing in a show that dangerously mirrors their real-life passion.

Death, Deception, and Destiny

As rehearsals for their musical “Spectacular, Spectacular” continue, tensions rise. Christian becomes increasingly jealous, the Duke grows more suspicious, and Satine is caught between her love for Christian and her obligation to save the club—and herself.

Worse still, Satine is secretly dying from tuberculosis, a fact only Zidler and the club’s doctor know. Zidler tries to keep her illness hidden, even from Satine, believing that the show must go on.

When the Duke demands Satine be his completely—or else he’ll shut down the Moulin Rouge and hurt Christian—Zidler urges Satine to break Christian’s heart to protect him. She complies, leading to a heartbreaking fallout.

Movie Ending

The film’s finale is as operatic and emotional as the rest of the story.

Opening night arrives. The Moulin Rouge is packed, the performance is in full swing, and the tension between Christian, Satine, and the Duke hits its peak. Christian, enraged and heartbroken by Satine’s rejection, bursts into the show and confronts her onstage, demanding that she admit the truth.

Instead of giving in to fear, Satine begins to sing their song—“Come What May”, their love theme—on stage. It’s a defiant, emotional moment of pure honesty.

The Duke, furious, tries to stop the performance, but he’s thwarted by the bohemian performers. Christian and Satine are reunited in front of the entire audience. They share a final, triumphant embrace.

But just as their love seems victorious, tragedy strikes.

Satine collapses in Christian’s arms. She is dying.

In a quiet, devastating final moment, she whispers her last words to him: “Tell our story, Christian. That way, I’ll always be with you.” She dies moments later, leaving Christian shattered but determined to keep her memory alive.

The film ends with Christian narrating:
“The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.”

It’s a gut-wrenching ending that turns a glittering romance into a tragic love story—one that’s remembered not for its happy ending, but for its truth.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Moulin Rouge! does not feature any post-credits scenes. The film ends definitively after Satine’s death and Christian’s final narration. No additional content follows the credits.

Type of Movie

Moulin Rouge! is a romantic musical drama, specifically a jukebox musical, which means it uses pre-existing popular songs to drive the narrative. It’s a mix of:

• Musical
• Romance
• Drama
• Tragedy
• Period piece (1890s Paris)

Cast

• Nicole Kidman as Satine
• Ewan McGregor as Christian
• Jim Broadbent as Harold Zidler
• Richard Roxburgh as The Duke
• John Leguizamo as Toulouse-Lautrec
• Kylie Minogue as The Green Fairy
• Garry McDonald, Jacek Koman, and others in supporting roles

Film Music and Composer

The musical features reimagined versions of classic and modern pop songs, arranged with flair and emotional depth.

Key musical numbers include:

• “Lady Marmalade” (P!nk, Christina Aguilera, Mýa, Lil’ Kim – for the soundtrack)
• “Come What May” (original song written for the film)
• “Your Song” (Elton John cover)
• “Roxanne” (The Police, dramatically reimagined)

Composer: Craig Armstrong
Music supervision: Marius de Vries

Filming Locations

• Sydney, Australia – Filmed entirely at Fox Studios.
  Despite being set in Paris, every scene was filmed on elaborate sets in Australia.

Importance:

• The controlled studio environment allowed Luhrmann to create the heightened, fantastical version of Montmartre he envisioned.
• The exaggerated theatricality was possible because of the soundstage setups—no limits, no realism needed.

Awards and Nominations

• Academy Awards:
  • Won: Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design
  • Nominated: Best Picture, Best Actress (Kidman), Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Sound
• Golden Globes:
  • Won: Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Actress – Musical or Comedy (Nicole Kidman)
  • Nominated: Best Actor (McGregor), Best Director (Luhrmann)
• BAFTA: Multiple wins and nominations including production design and music.

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Nicole Kidman fractured two ribs and injured her knee during production, causing delays.
• The famous “Elephant Love Medley” was one of the hardest scenes to shoot due to the complex transitions and costume changes.
• Luhrmann had to fight to keep “Come What May” in the film—it was nearly cut.
• McGregor did his own singing, surprising many with his powerful voice.
• The film took over two years to complete due to its ambitious editing and post-production demands.

Inspirations and References

• Based loosely on Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “La Traviata” and Alexandre Dumas’ “La Dame aux Camélias.”
• Visually and tonally inspired by:
  • Bollywood musicals
  • Classic Hollywood films like Cabaret and An American in Paris
  • The spirit of 19th-century Parisian bohemia

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

• An alternate, darker ending was considered, where Satine dies offstage, but Luhrmann chose to have her die in Christian’s arms to maximize emotional resonance.
• Several extended musical sequences were cut for pacing, including a longer version of “Like a Virgin.”
• A more detailed scene of Satine’s childhood was filmed but never used.

Book Adaptations and Differences

Moulin Rouge! is not directly adapted from a single book but draws heavily from:

• “La Traviata” (opera)
• “La Dame aux Camélias” by Alexandre Dumas fils

The movie borrows the tragic courtesan archetype and reimagines it with pop culture, making it more theatrical and modern.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• Christian and Satine’s first meeting in the elephant suite
• The “Elephant Love Medley” where they sing dozens of love song snippets
• The “Roxanne” tango—intense, haunting, unforgettable
• Satine’s final performance and death

Iconic Quotes

• “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.”
• “I can’t fall in love with anyone.”
• “A life without love—that’s terrible!”
• “Love is a many-splendored thing.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• The Green Fairy (played by Kylie Minogue) is a nod to absinthe hallucinations popular in bohemian Paris.
• The Moulin Rouge set was designed using real elements of the Paris location, stylized for theatrical exaggeration.
• Toulouse-Lautrec’s lines are often lifted from the real-life artist’s writings and quotes.

Trivia

• The film was the first musical nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars since Beauty and the Beast (1991).
• The song “Come What May” was originally written for Romeo + Juliet but unused.
• Jim Broadbent’s rendition of “Like a Virgin” was entirely unexpected and became a fan favorite.
• Nicole Kidman took dance lessons 6 days a week to prepare.

Why Watch?

Watch Moulin Rouge! if you want to experience:

• A genre-bending, emotionally charged musical
• A tragic love story with unforgettable performances
• Jaw-dropping set pieces and wild costume design
• Songs you know, reimagined in theatrical, unexpected ways

It’s not just a movie. It’s an experience.

Director’s Other Movies

• Romeo + Juliet (1996)
• The Great Gatsby (2013)
• Elvis (2022)
• Strictly Ballroom (1992)

Recommended Films for Fans

• Les Misérables (2012)
• Chicago (2002)
• Across the Universe (2007)
• The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
• Burlesque (2010)
• The Greatest Showman (2017)