“to Live Life to the Fullest, You Must Take Risks”
Taking risks are essential for one to live life to the fullest. Indeed, taking risks may be dangerous and impacts one’s life negatively, but this allows individuals to encounter experiences that may be beneficial as it is a positive way to learn new skills and to test one’s limits and the limits of others. This is evident in both Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 romantic, musical film ‘Moulin Rouge’ and Libby Hathorn’s children’s book, ‘Okra and Acacia : The Story of the Wattle Patterned Plate’. These two texts present the protagonists and other characters taking risks such as romantic risk, social risk and professional risk.
In Luhrmann’s film, Moulin Rouge, Christian takes a romantic risk by fraternising with Satine who is a courtesan and romancing the Duke because he has claimed rights to the Moulin rouge. During the scene where Christian and Satine are having private rehearsals together, the lovers are viewed in a mid shot showing their affect towards each other, is then disrupted by the intrusion of the Duke. The couple’s fast-reacted body language of the two separating form each other’s arms display the severity of the romantic and professional risks that Christian and Satine are partaking. In spite of this, this risk is worth taking as it allows the writer and the courtesan to experience love. The owner of the Moulin Rouge, Harold Zidler takes a professional risk by giving the rights to the Moulin Rouge to the Duke for closure to his exclusive claim that binds Satine to him. Harold’s surprised facial expression refects his reaction when the duke demands for the rights to the Moulin Rouge. Horald slowing falling into his chair conveys the shock and his understanding of the decision he has to make to receive funding for the musical ‘Spectacular Spectacular’. For this reason, Harold’s slow paced response “ I completely understand” reflects his realisation on what he must decide on and his reaction to the Duke’s obsession fit, wanting Satine to himself. The close up
In Luhrmann’s film, Moulin Rouge, Christian takes a romantic risk by fraternising with Satine who is a courtesan and romancing the Duke because he has claimed rights to the Moulin rouge. During the scene where Christian and Satine are having private rehearsals together, the lovers are viewed in a mid shot showing their affect towards each other, is then disrupted by the intrusion of the Duke. The couple’s fast-reacted body language of the two separating form each other’s arms display the severity of the romantic and professional risks that Christian and Satine are partaking. In spite of this, this risk is worth taking as it allows the writer and the courtesan to experience love. The owner of the Moulin Rouge, Harold Zidler takes a professional risk by giving the rights to the Moulin Rouge to the Duke for closure to his exclusive claim that binds Satine to him. Harold’s surprised facial expression refects his reaction when the duke demands for the rights to the Moulin Rouge. Horald slowing falling into his chair conveys the shock and his understanding of the decision he has to make to receive funding for the musical ‘Spectacular Spectacular’. For this reason, Harold’s slow paced response “ I completely understand” reflects his realisation on what he must decide on and his reaction to the Duke’s obsession fit, wanting Satine to himself. The close up