The Red Curtain Trilogy consist of Baz Luhrmanns first three films, spanning just over a decade in creation. These films caught the eyes of many, propelling Luhrmann into the spotlight, and resulting in numerous awards for not only the films but for him too. Luhrmann states "the Red Curtain requires some basics. One is that the audience knows how it will end when it begins, it is fundamental that the story is extremely thin and extremely simple - that is a lot of labour. Then it is set in a heightened, created world. Then there is a device - the heightened world of Strictly Ballroom, Verona Beach. Then there is another device - dance or iambic pentameter or singing, and that's there to keep the audience awake and engaged. The other thing is that this piece was to be a comic tragedy. This is an unusual form, there's been a few goes at it but it's not common in Western cinematic form." Therefore in each of these films the same three rules apply. Additionally, the reality depicted in the films is “reel” not “real,” meaning the continuity of time and the authenticity of the events are often disregarded for cinematic effect. The films are theatrical to say the least .
Along side these rules there's also the theme of love, a forbidden love. For Strictly Ballroom, the love shown triumphs over oppression; for Romeo + Juliet, Shakespeare’s classic, love in a conflicting society; and for Moulin Rouge, love conquering social status along with the maturation of youthful love to adult love through loss. Concisely, Strictly Ballroom, Romeo + Juliet, and Moulin Rouge! are all about unlikely couples who fall madly in love. Although their families and society try to pull them apart, the lovers cannot be broken up. The pairs must conceal their feelings from the world and willingly sacrifice everything to be together. Each film incorporates its own motifs and details to differentiate from the others, however the basic plotline is always the same.
Along side these rules there's also the theme of love, a forbidden love. For Strictly Ballroom, the love shown triumphs over oppression; for Romeo + Juliet, Shakespeare’s classic, love in a conflicting society; and for Moulin Rouge, love conquering social status along with the maturation of youthful love to adult love through loss. Concisely, Strictly Ballroom, Romeo + Juliet, and Moulin Rouge! are all about unlikely couples who fall madly in love. Although their families and society try to pull them apart, the lovers cannot be broken up. The pairs must conceal their feelings from the world and willingly sacrifice everything to be together. Each film incorporates its own motifs and details to differentiate from the others, however the basic plotline is always the same.
| Strictly Ballroom Scott Hastings is a champion calibre ballroom dancer, but much to the chagrin of the Australian ballroom dance community, Scott believes in dancing "his own steps". Fran is a beginning dancer and a bit of an ugly duckling who has the audacity to ask to be Scott's partner after his unorthodox style causes his regular partner to leave. Together, the two try to win the Australian Pan Pacific Championships and show the Ballroom Confederation that they are wrong when they say, "there are no new steps!" (IMDb) |
Romeo + Juliet Classic story of Romeo and Juliet, set in a modern-day city of Verona Beach. The Montagues and Capulets are two feuding families, whose children meet and fall in love. They have to hide their love from the world because they know that their parents will not allow them to be together. There are obstacles on the way, like Juliet's cousin, Tybalt, and Romeo's friend Mercutio, and many fights. But although it is set in modern times, it is still the same timeless story of the "star crossed lovers" (IMDb) | |
| Moulin Rouge The year is 1899, and Christian, a young English writer, has come to Paris to follow the Bohemian revolution taking hold of the city's drug and prostitute infested underworld. And nowhere is the thrill of the underworld more alive than at the Moulin Rouge, a night club where the rich and poor men alike come to be entertained by the dancers, but things take a wicked turn for Christian as he starts a deadly love affair with the star courtesan of the club, Satine. But her affections are also coveted by the club's patron: the Duke. A dangerous love triangle ensues as Satine and Christian attempt to fight all odds to stay together but a force that not even love can conquer is taking its toll on Satine... (IMDb) |