"Moulin Rouge" --- The movie that should be studied in detail

I have now watched this movie twice now and have noticed this movie is really about our world and what is really going in it, behind the veil or curtain. It deserves to be studied every bit as intensely as "KNOWING."

To will start this thread with the plot and a trailer.

PLOT

In 1899, Christian (Ewan McGregor) moves to the Montmartre district of Paris to become a writer among the Bohemian culture. By happenstance, he encounters a troupe of performers led by Toulouse-Lautrec (John Leguizamo); his writing skills allow them to finish their proposed show, "Spectacular Spectacular" that they wish to sell to Harold Zidler (Jim Broadbent), owner of the Moulin Rouge cabaret. Toulouse-Lautrec convinces Christian to go and see the star courtesan, Satine (Nicole Kidman) in her private quarters to present the work, unaware that Zidler is at the same time promising Satine to the wealthy and unscrupulous Duke of Monroth (Richard Roxburgh), a potential investor in the cabaret ("Sparkling Diamonds" medley).

Satine initially mistakes Christian for the Duke, and soon learns that he is just a writer; but by this time Christian has already fallen for her ("Your Song"). The Duke interrupts them; Christian and Satine quickly feign that they were practicing the lines for the Moulin Rouge's next show, "Spectacular Spectacular", and with the help of Zidler, Toulouse-Lautrec, and the rest of the troupe, they pitch the show to the Duke with an improvised plot, about an evil maharajah (HIGH KING) attempting to woo an Indian courtesan who is in love with a poor sitar player ("The Pitch (Spectacular Spectacular)"). A confused Duke agrees to let them put on the show, but only on the condition that only he is allowed to see Satine (FEMALE FORM OF THE WORD SATAN). Christian later goes back to see Satine to convince her that she loves him ("Elephant Love Medley"). As the cabaret is converted to a theater for the show, Christian and Satine manage to continue to see each other alone, under the pretense of rehearsing Satine's lines. The Duke becomes jealous and warns Zidler that he may stop financing the show; Zidler in return arranges for Satine to dine with him that evening. However, during practice she falls ill; she and Zidler learn in private that she is dying from consumption. Zidler apologizes to the Duke the next day, claiming that Satine had gone to confession ("Like a Virgin"). During rehearsal, Satine tries to convince Christian that their relationship endangers the show, but he counters by writing a secret love song into the show to affirm their true love ("Come What May").

Later, as the Duke watches Christian rehearse lines with Satine, Nina (Caroline O'Connor), a jealous performer of the cabaret, points out to the Duke that the play is an obvious metaphor for Christian, Satine, and the Duke. Enraged, the Duke demands that the play ending be changed so that the courtesan ends up with the maharajah; Satine offers to talk and spend the night with the Duke to keep the original ending. That evening while at the Duke's quarters, Satine sees Christian on the streets below, and realizes she cannot go through with this ("El Tango de Roxanne"). The Duke tries to take her forcibly, but she is saved by one of the cabaret dancers and reunited with Christian, who recommends they run away together. Meanwhile, the Duke threatens to Zidler that he will have Christian killed if Satine is not his. Zidler reiterates this warning to Satine, but when she still refuses to return, he finally informs her that her fainting spells will not get better but worse, until she dies. Satine returns to Christian and tells him they can no longer see each other as she will be staying with the Duke. Christian tries to follow her, but he is denied entry to the Moulin Rouge, and falls into a state of depression, even when Toulouse-Lautrec insists that Satine still loves him.

On the night of the show, Christian sneaks into the Moulin Rouge, ready to pay Satine to return his love just as the Duke has paid for her. He catches Satine moments before she is on stage, and she warns him that his life is in danger if the Duke spots him. Suddenly, they find themselves in the spotlight; Zidler convinces the stunned audience that Christian is the sitar player in disguise. However, Christian simply walks off the stage into the hushed audience. Toulouse-Lautrec, from the rafters, cries out, "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return", spurring Satine to sing the secret love song Christian had wrote to show him her love. Elated, Christian returns to the stage to join her in the song. The Duke's bodyguard tries to kill Christian but is thwarted by Toulouse-Lautrec, while the Duke's own attempt is stopped by Zidler. The furious Duke storms out of the cabaret. Christian and Satine complete their song to a standing ovation ("Come What May (Reprise)", "Coup d'État (Finale)").

As the curtain closes, Satine falls to the ground, succumbing to her illness. As the rest of the cast watches, she and Christian affirm their love before she dies. A year later, the Moulin Rouge has closed down, and Christian has written the tale of his love for Satine, a "love that will live forever".

[link to en.wikipedia.org]