The Opening Sequence of Moulin Rouge

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The Opening Sequence of Moulin Rouge

The opening sequence of Moulin Rouge is both informative and dramatic.

It tells the story of Christian as he tells the story of the Moulin

Rouge. The bright colours and music give the impression of joy

throughout the film; this is enhanced through the use of erratic

camera movements within the Moulin Rouge. In contrast the woeful voice

of Toulouse can be heard singing the story over the top, informing the

audience that the film will also include great tragedy and sorrow.

It's lavish use of colour and mise-en-scéne work well with the

intricate use of cinematography. Every shot is carefully planned to

give the audience a preferred reading. The high angle shots of

Christian make him seem weak and vulnerable. The slow paced editing

also allows the audience to take in the surroundings, to gather

thoughts and ask questions such as; why is he crying? From the camera

angles used we feel sympathy for Christian when we learn of Satine's

death.

Consider the 'stage-setting' techniques used: the curtains of the

stage are deep red suggesting to the audience themes of love, passion,

desire and danger, stage setting for the story that is about to

unfold. The curtains are gold trimmed creating a sense of grandeur and

decadence.

Intertextuality is employed in the use of the theme music from 'The

Sound of Music'. This music is bright and celebratory and it indicates

the idealism of love. The screen is showing, in silent movie style, 'A

Bazmark Production' and this is contrasted as the music changes to

'Roxanne', and the credits change to say 'Moulin Rouge!'. The

atmosphere becomes dark; 'Roxanne' conno...

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... the typewriter. "The woman that I loved is…" there is a pause in which

Christian looks out of the window as if he is lost in thought, church

bells can be heard in the distance, and the sound of Christian crying

as he says the word "…dead". The camera cuts to a symbolic shot of the

Moulin Rouge in ruins. The audience now knows that not only is Satine

dead, everything to do with her past is dead, and Christian's life is

also in ruins.

This film is colourful, noisy and exotic. It reveals joy, tragedy,

seediness, grandeur, poverty, wealth and ambition throughout.

Decadence in the extreme. An entire gamut of human emotion and

experience. The opening sequence successfully employs music and

dramatic camera techniques to suggest to the audience the nature of

this film, which is an assault on the senses from the outset.

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