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05th Jun 2021

Moulin Rouge turns 20 and Nicole Kidman is just as nostalgic as the rest of us

Laura Grainger

“One day I’ll fly away…”

It’s official: Moulin Rouge! is 20 years old.

Yep, it’s been two whole decades since the Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor-starring musical brought its Parisian whimsy to our screens and had us whipping out the Kleenex.

The movie has become a cult classic in the 20 years since its release – even being named ‘Best Film of the Decade’ in a 2010 survey by Lovefilm – and it’s not hard to see why.

Never has a movie been so flamboyant, melodramatic, romantic, kitschy and tragic all in one go. Its story of ill-fated, star-crossed lovers makes it an epic, but its bells and whistles make it a masterclass in camp.

From scenes of burlesque glamour, to musical covers of songs that most definitely weren’t around in 1900, to Kylie Minogue guest-starring as an absinthe trip-induced fairy (who sings ‘the Sound of Music’ before giving a scream that was actually voiced by Ozzy Osbourne), the entire movie feels like a fever dream.

Yet the joyous ridiculousness of it all only makes the tragedy hit harder, which is probably why it’s still celebrated all these years later.

Well, that and the fact that it gave us the iconic rendition of ‘Lady Marmalade’ by Christina Aguilera, Mýa, Pink and Lil’ Kim.

Nicole Kidman herself was feeling nostalgic earlier this week, taking to Instagram to share some behind-the-scenes and press photos from the time. “Some of my favorite memories from #MoulinRouge!” she wrote. “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love, and be loved in return.”

Voulez-vous regarder Moulin Rouge! avec moi, ce soir?