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Author
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Comment
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NatalieIrene
Registered User
(1/18/02 9:10:38 pm)
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Orpheus and Eurydice at the Moulin Rouge
I have recently become a fan of the movie MOULIN ROUGE. And while searching the movie's official site (clubmoulinrouge.com), I was surprised to find the story was based on the great and tragic myth of Orpheus and his love, Eurydice.
I've always had a love for the tragic love of Orpheus and Eurydice,
and this recent discovery just reawakened my admiration.
I now really have a craving to read a good novel based on the Orpheus
myths. Does anyone know of any? I'd really appreciate it.
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Heidi
Anne Heiner
ezOP
(1/18/02 11:03:56 pm)
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Re: Orpheus and Eurydice at the Moulin Rouge
You might check your local library or used bookseller for:
The Friendship Song
by Nancy Springer
I haven't read I have been happy enough with Springer's work in the past. It is based on the Orpheus and Eurydice story as you requested.
You may also be able to locate the book online through www.abe.com.
Heidi
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tlchang37
Registered User
(1/19/02 12:31:25 am)
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Re: Orpheus and Eurydice at the Moulin Rouge
It's not a novel, but there is a very nice picture book version of it called "Orpheus" retold and illustrated by Charles Mikolaycak which I quite like.
Tara
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Janeyolen
Unregistered User
(1/19/02 6:11:18 am)
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Don't see it
I don't see that this is Orpheus and Euridyce at all. If he brings her back from the dead, almost to the outside door of the underworld and looks back--then it is O&E.
This is clearly Camille.
Jane
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Helen
Registered User
(1/19/02 8:56:37 am)
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Re: Don't see it
Frances Lia Block wrote a really nifty retelling of the Orpheus myth ... _Ecstasia_, I think it was called.
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NatalieIrene
Registered User
(1/19/02 9:20:50 am)
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Re: Don't see it
Warning... Spoilers for those who may not have seen the movie yet.
That's what it said on the website, at least. And, in the movie, there seems to be countless ways to interrpret it.
But the one way that comes to my mind, is, at the end, Christian (Orpheus) walks down the asile, leaving Satine (Eurydice) on stage. Then, Satine starts singing to him, and he finally turns around and they enjoy a few brief moments together before she is taken away from him again (she dies).
That's my thought.
But, thoughout the movie, they do keep refering to the Moulin Rouge as the "underworld." And Christian, an obvious outsider, does try to rescue her from that world (both literally, when they attempt to run away, and symbolically, with his love).
And then there's the Duke, the other suitor who persues Satine (Eurydice), causing her ultimate doom (the death-bite from the snake).
I'm not sure. There are just so many ways to interpret this film as a retelling of Oedipus and Eurydice (in my opinion).
But, it is a great movie, for those who haven't seen it yet.
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Midori
Unregistered User
(1/19/02 3:18:36 pm)
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film
You might also try renting the film "Black Orpheus" which is set in Brazil during Carnevale--the music is glorious--done by Villa Lobos--and the cast is black. It might make for a very interesting comparative viewing to the Moulin Rouge film--which I must admit I didn't particularly like--visually spectacular but it felt too much like a string of MTV videos and it's own sort of post modern jokes on itself got a little annoying. But, having said that--see you can view "Black Orpheus"--I think you might really enjoy it.
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eearth
Registered User
(1/22/02 11:23:50 am)
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Orpheus & Eurydice
Cynthia Voigt wrote a good YA novel called Orfe on the subject, and there's a romance novel called Enchanted Fire by Roberta Gellis as well. Gellis has written a number of romances on mythology, Shimmering Splendor (Psyche and Cupid) and Dazzling Brightness (Demeter and Hades).
One of my students read one of Gellis' books for a college course I was teaching on transformations of myths, and she said it was very racy -- the most fun she'd ever had doing homework for a class!
Elise
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Jess
Unregistered User
(1/22/02 9:43:54 pm)
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Orpheus
Well, my guess is that the movie got its title from Orpheus in the Underworld by Offenbach, which was the theme song for the Moulin Rouge. But as long we are on Orpheus and music, try reading from the original (read first) opera which was based on the tale Euridice with Rinuccini's poem set by Caccini and Peri first performed in 1600. Could be fun for you.
Jess
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David
Unregistered User
(3/29/02 3:23:44 pm)
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Orpheus
Try 'The Ground Beneath Her Feet' by Salman Rushdie
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swood
Unregistered User
(4/3/02 9:45:19 am)
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Recommendations - Cupid & Psyche
I have always loved Until We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis as a very creative retelling of the myth of Cupid & Psyche from the pov of the sister of Psyche. It is also an excellent exploration of faith and the difficulties in believing in things that can't be percieved with the five common senses.
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