Be Still My Beating Heart

Back page of the booklet in the Moulin Rouge soundtrack cd; the artwork is credited to Bazmark Design – Silvana Azzi and Catherine Martin, with additional collages by Alexandra Bolton and Nikki di FalcoEvery time I watch Moulin Rouge I totally fall in love with Ewan McGregor again. It’s such a romantic film, yet the OTT hamming it up just makes me burst out laughing every time. There are so many great lines in it too (I particularly love Harold Zidler’s, delivered in the brilliant Jim Broadbent’s gleeful, fruity voice: Everything's going so well!; I'll leave you two squirrels to get better acquainted; Everyone's counting on you gosling; and Sateen’s I love a little poetry after supper.

Of course the mish-mash of music lyrics are brilliant too – there are too many too mention, but I love Like a Virgin (laugh out loud) and Roxanne (soo sexy!).

Paris panoramaSetting the scene of 1900 ParisMain menu title of the special features DVDI love the vintage look of the opening sequence, and the Green Fairy scene with Kylie Minogue. I own the special edition DVD with an extra disk of bonus material, which carries one of the best selections of behind-the-scenes and production featurettes I’ve seen on any DVD. The design of the DVD menus is great looking too, as is the booklet that comes with the CD.

Prostitute’s bosoms on displayThis absinthe drinker has the dissipated look down patA Lady of the NightSmoke and Mirrors title on the special features DVDThere is one fascinating section called Smoke and Mirrors, which is all about the evolution of the intro, and the creation of the green fairy. The nostalgic old film stock look – complete with scratches and flickering lights – of the intro is used when Christian is sadly writing his love story in his little attic.

Kylie Minogue, the green fairy (interestingly, the original concept for the green fairy was an evil rocker, such as Iggy Pop)And the green fairy feature is a fascinating insight into the making of her look. The sequence happens so fast in the film that it’s easy to miss the details – Kylie Minogue’s eyes glowing red, showing her evil side, and the hallucinogenic whirlpool she drags the bohemians through.

You know you’re a real bohemian if you believe in Truth, Beauty, Freedom … but above all: Love. 

L’amourFollow the Green Fairy …The Green Fairy turns wicked and her eyes glow redThe bohemians whirling down the rabbit hole – this sequence reminds me of Alfred Hitchcock's special effects for the film VertigoPage two of the booklet in the Moulin Rouge soundtrack cdPage four of the booklet in the Moulin Rouge soundtrack cdPage six of the booklet in the Moulin Rouge soundtrack cdAnd above all, Love, page eight in the booklet in the Moulin Rouge soundtrack cd