Moulin Rouge!

Screening as part of BFI's UK-wide season Too Much: Melodrama on Film. See any 3 titles in the season for £24 when you book them together – simply log in and add the tickets to your basket, and the discount will be applied at checkout.

Australian director Baz Luhrmann’s maximalist style is in full force in his 2001 fin de siècle jukebox musical starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor. A red velvet, glitter-covered visual and musical spectacular, Moulin Rouge! is completely over-the-top and perfectly illustrates the idea of ‘Too Much’.

Nicole Kidman stars as Satine, courtesan and star performer at the famous Moulin Rouge nightclub. and Ewan McGregor plays Christian, a young English writer who falls in love with her. Rounding out the cast are Richard Roxburgh as the jealous, possessive Duke, Jim Broadbent as the owner of the Moulin Rouge, and John Leguizamo as the famous bohemian artist Toulouse Lautrec. There is also a memorable cameo appearance by a beloved Antipodean pop star. 

Luhrmann packs the film with anachronistic modern pop song choices transplanted to turn of the century Paris, and the accompanying version of Lady Marmalade by Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mýa and Pink was a chart-topping smash that felt like it was everywhere at the time. 

Luhrmann has never been a director of subtlety and this may be the film most characteristic of his distinctive extravagant style. As Peter Bradshaw said in his review when the film was released – “ Luhrmann cannot - or will not - calm down.” Nor should he. 

Supported by the BFI Film Audience Network, awarding funding on behalf of the BFI National Lottery.