Shine ★★★½ 1995 (PG-13) Astonishing true portrayal of musical genius and its cost. Teenaged pianist David Helfgott (Taylor) is a prodigy in his native Australia but is pushed to the limit by his authoritarian father Peter (Mueller-Stahl). Eventually defying his father's strictures, David accepts a scholarship to London's Royal College of Music where he triumphs under the tutelege of professor Cecil Parkes (Gielgud), but then collapses from strain. For 15 years, he is confined to psychiatric hospitals, unable to play the piano, until the now-adult David (Rush) has a chance meeting with the loving Gillian (Redgrave), whose support enables him to resume his career. Helfgott himself plays piano for his screen counterparts. 105m/C VHS, DVD, Wide. AU Geoffrey Rush, Noah Taylor, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Lynn Redgrave, John Gielgud, Googie Withers, Chris Haywood, Sonia Todd, Alex Rafalowicz, Randall Berger;
Director:
Scott Hicks;
Writer:
Jan Sardi;
Writer:
Geoffrey Simpson;
Cameo:
David Hirschfelder. Oscars '96: Actor (Rush); Australian Film Inst. '96: Actor (Rush), Cinematog., Director (Hicks), Film, Film Editing, Orig. Screenplay, Sound, Support. Actor (Mueller-Stahl), Score; British Acad. '96: Actor (Rush); Golden Globes '97: Actor—Drama (Rush); L.A. Film Critics '96: Actor (Rush); Natl. Bd. of Review '96: Film; N.Y. Film Critics '96: Actor (Rush); Screen Actors Guild '96: Actor (Rush); Broadcast Film Critics '96: Actor (Rush).
