Moulin Rouge! (2001)

Moulin Rouge! (English pronunciation: /mu??l??n ?ru??/, from French: [mul?? ?u?]) is a 2001 romantic musical film directed, produced, and co-written by Baz Luhrmann. Following the Red Curtain Cinema principles, the film is based on the Orphean myth and on Giuseppe Verdi's opera, La Traviata. It tells the story of a young, English poet/writer, Christian, who falls in love with the terminally-ill star of the Moulin Rouge, cabaret actress and courtesan Satine. It uses the musical setting of the Montmartre Quarter of Paris, France. The film was nominated for eight Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actress for Nicole Kidman, and won two: for art direction and costume design. It was the first musical nominated for best picture in 22 years. It was filmed at Fox Studios in Sydney, Australia.

In 1899, Christian (Ewan McGregor) moves to the Montmartre district of Paris. He encounters a musical troupe led by Toulouse-Lautrec (John Leguizamo) that is developing a new play for Harold Zidler (Jim Broadbent), owner of the Moulin Rouge. Christian's writing helps the show, entitled "Spectacular Spectacular", and Christian presents the work to its star courtesan, Satine (Nicole Kidman), to win her favour. Zidler has arranged for Satine to spend the night with the wealthy Duke of Monroth (Richard Roxburgh) who wishes to invest in the cabaret. Through miscommunication, Satine mistakes Christian for the Duke and begins seducing him despite his insistence he is only there to present his poetry. The Duke enters while Satine is trying to hide Christian. Satine urges Christian to leave without the Duke noticing. After he refuses, she tells the Duke that they should wait and pushes him out. Once he has gone, Satine faints. The Duke returns, finding Christian and Satine in a compromising position. Satine states that Christian is only rehearsing. They improvise a new plot with an evil maharajah attempting to woo an Indian courtesan who is in love with a poor sitar player. The Duke agrees to finance the show on the condition that he is the only one allowed to see Satine. Satine and Christian continually make up excuses as to why the Duke cannot see her. As the troupe prepares for the show, The Duke complains to Zidler that Satine is spending too much time with Christian. Zidler spies the two lovers and tells Satine to end the affair. Satine falls ill. The Duke is enraged when Satine does not show up to dinner, but Zidler tells him that she is at confession. Satine tells Christian that they must end their relationship. Christian convinces her that they should stay together by writing ("Come What May") a song he will put in the show. Nini (Caroline O'Connor), jealous, points out that the play is a metaphor for Christian, Satine and The Duke. The Duke tells Zidler to change the ending so that the courtesan ends up with the maharajah. Satine insists that she spend the night with The Duke to discuss the ending. That night, Satine refuses the Duke's advances. She is saved by another dancer, Chocolat, and flees to Christian. The Duke reports this to Zidler and states that unless Satine is his, he will have Christian killed. Zidler finds Satine getting ready to leave, and tells her she is dying of consumption. The next day, Satine visits Christian's loft and claims that she is staying with The Duke. Christian follows Satine back to the Moulin Rouge only to be refused entry. On the opening night, Toulouse-Lautrec convinces Christian that Satine may still love him, so he goes to the Moulin Rouge. Christian approaches Satine, trying to pay her for their sex, but Satine tries sending him away, fearing the Duke's bodyguard will kill him. They find themselves on stage, confusing the performers and audience. Zidler states that Christian is the sitar player in disguise. Christian tells The Duke that Satine belongs to The Duke now, throws money at her and tells her she means nothing to him. As Christian leaves the theater, Satine sings their "secret song", showing Christian that she loves him. Christian joins her in singing the song and walks onstage, angering The Duke. The Duke's bodyguard attempts to shoot Christian, but the courtesans and Bohemians stop him; the Duke then tries finishing the job himself only to be stopped by Zidler. The lovers finish their song to a standing ovation and the Duke storms out of the Moulin Rouge. As the performers get ready to take a bow, Satine succumbs to her illness, dying in Christian's arms.