Movies about writers: Moulin Rouge

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A movie I very much enjoy watching is Moulin Rouge starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor. It is lively, fast moving, entertaining with uplifting and inspirational music.

Ewan McGregor plays the part of Christian, a penniless starving writer who desires to write about love. There is just one problem; he’s never been in love. He moves to the Moulin Rouge in Paris and begins to write his great love story, tapping out the words on an old typewriter while living alone in the classical writer’s garret.

He meets Satine, played by Nicole Kidman and instantly falls in love, not knowing she is a courtesan. Of course there are many complications but I won’t bore you here with them; see the movie or read an outline of the plot here. (It doesn’t give the ending).

Not only is it an entertaining movie but it also gives some insights into the writing process. It is hard, lonely and often difficult to become established as a writer. Set in an era when sponsorship of writers was the norm it highlights the struggles of a young, enthusiastic but inexperienced author.