47 Quotes by Baz Luhrmann

Baz Luhrmann, an Australian director, is known for his visually stunning and thematically daring films that defy traditional genre boundaries. Born in 1962, Luhrmann gained international recognition for his unique directorial style, which blends lavish production design, extravagant costumes, and modern soundtracks.

His films, such as "Moulin Rouge!" and "Romeo + Juliet," are renowned for their vibrant visual aesthetics and immersive storytelling. Luhrmann's visionary approach to filmmaking often incorporates elements of romance, tragedy, and social commentary. He skillfully infuses classic stories with a contemporary flair, breathing new life into familiar narratives. His ability to seamlessly blend different artistic mediums has earned him critical acclaim and a dedicated following.

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Beyond his distinct directorial style, Luhrmann's films delve into profound themes, exploring love, identity, and the human condition. His works challenge traditional storytelling conventions and push the boundaries of cinematic expression. Luhrmann's commitment to bold storytelling, coupled with his meticulous attention to detail, has firmly established him as a masterful director whose films leave a lasting impression on audiences worldwide.

Baz Luhrmann Quotes


A life lived in fear is a life half lived. (Meaning)

The ugly duckling is a misunderstood universal myth. It's not about turning into a blonde Barbie doll or becoming what you dream of being; it's about self-revelation, becoming who you are.

Western films don't do very well in India.

Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long, and in the end, it's only with yourself

Ultimately, you have to pursue your own path, not someone's idea of the right path. You need to stay on your path.

Sydney is rather like an arrogant lover. When it rains it can deny you its love and you can find it hard to relate to. It's not a place that's built to be rainy or cold. But when the sun comes out, it bats its eyelids, it's glamorous, beautiful, attractive, smart, and it's very hard to get away from its magnetic pull.

If Paris is a city of lights, Sydney is the city of fireworks.

The race is long but in the end it is only with YOURSELF.

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Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it.

All good, clean stories are melodrama, it's just the set of devices that determines how you show or hide it.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth.

Trust yourself that you can do it and get it

Opera was the cinema of its time, so to bring back that popular appeal, you just need to unleash its visceral immediacy and excitement. Most productions don't manage that - but when an opera does do it, you never forget it.

I've always loved the old epics that tell a simple emotional story, whether it's the tumultuous relationship between Rhett and Scarlett or Lawrence of Arabia's passion to get lost in a faraway place.

You really think that on my films people tell me what to do? I don't think so. On my films I decide.

In terms of the mechanics of story, myth is an intriguing one because we didn't make myth up; myth is an imprinture of the human condition.

Don't worry about the future.

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I always have a point of view. It may not be right, but it's my own.

When you're in theater or the circus or film - to me it's all one - affairs happen. People fall in love.

The food in Sydney is an Asian Pacific cuisine. It's eclectic but above all it's fresh, inventive and creative and that's what I love about it.

Sydney in general is eclectic. You can be on that brilliant blue ocean walk in the morning and then within 20 minutes you can be in a completely vast suburban sprawl or an Italian or Asian suburb, and it's that mix of people, it's that melting pot of people that give it its vital personality.

Why live life from dream to dream, and dread the day when dreaming ends.

There's a whole system in Hollywood where the director never speaks to the studio, but I like to engage them in a discussion. I listen.

Your choices are half chance, so are everybody else's.

One of the great things about Sydney is that it has a great acceptance of everyone and everything. It's an incredibly tolerant city, a city with a huge multicultural basis.

My father made sure that I had lots of levels of education – from ballroom-dancing to painting, commando training, theatre and magic.

At a very young age I was allowed to go into the cinema and watch adult films.

Australia, to the rest of the world, is just far away, and Australia in the Thirties was the faraway of the faraway.
I am always worried when someone says, 'This is perfect.'

So, what is creative freedom? We can make what we want, how we want. The only constraint is: not for any budget.

I do find walking is fundamental to my creative process.

I feel like a member of any group comprised of outsiders.

Fitzgerald coined the phrase the 'Jazz Age,' and now we're living in the Hip-Hop Age.

The future has become old fashioned.

It's pretty hard to get mugged in Manhattan.

Having grown up far, far away in a small country town in Australia, I was only slightly aware of hip-hop.

In the '60s not everybody was wearing flowers in their hair and flowing caftans.

Everything I make starts very personally.

Advice is a form of nostalgia.

Accept certain inalienable truths.

I think dance in any culture, in any form, is a true leveler.

When I was growing up you would see big American films that really mythologised their landscape, that really showed the vastness and the drama of their country.

Some of the greatest relationship films of all time, the two stars have hated each other, but mostly you see that chemistry.

I understand that anything actors are doing, good or bad, is motivated by fear.

My wife is the fact-checker, I'm in the story telling business.

The party is a true art form in Sydney and people practice it a great deal. You can really get quite lost in it.

The cold-audition process is not a science, so I ignore that.

***

Baz Luhrmann (Director) Life Highlights

  • Baz Luhrmann was born on September 17, 1962, in Sydney, Australia.
  • He is an Australian film director, screenwriter, and producer.
  • Luhrmann is known for his visually stunning and stylized films that often incorporate elements of music, dance, and elaborate production design.
  • He gained international acclaim with his 1992 film "Strictly Ballroom," a romantic comedy that explored the world of competitive ballroom dancing.
  • Baz Luhrmann's breakthrough came with the 1996 film "Romeo + Juliet," a modern retelling of William Shakespeare's classic play.
  • His distinctive visual and storytelling style earned him a reputation as a visionary director.
  • Luhrmann's 2001 film "Moulin Rouge!" was a critical and commercial success, earning numerous awards and nominations.
  • The film was praised for its innovative use of contemporary music in a period setting.
  • In 2013, Luhrmann directed "The Great Gatsby," an adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel, starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
  • His films often explore themes of love, identity, and the clash of cultures.
  • Baz Luhrmann is known for collaborating closely with his wife, Catherine Martin, who is a costume designer and production designer on his films.
  • He is also known for his attention to detail and his ability to create immersive and visually captivating cinematic experiences.
  • Luhrmann's work has received both praise and criticism for its stylized approach and unconventional storytelling.
  • He continues to be an influential figure in the world of filmmaking, inspiring a new generation of directors and creatives.

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* The editor of this curated page made every effort to maintain information accuracy, including any sayings, quotes, facts, dates, or key life events.

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Tal Gur is an author, founder, and impact-driven entrepreneur at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey and most recent book, The Art of Fully Living, has led him to found Elevate Society.

 
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