Shine **** (1996, Geoffrey Rush, Noah Taylor, Armin Mueller-Stahl) – Classic Movie Review 292

Writer-director Scott Hicks’s 1996 Aussie movie is a genuinely appealing heartwarmer. Three actors at different ages – boy, teen, man – shine brightly as the troubled real-life piano-playing genius David Helfgott (born 19 May 1947) who became a successful classical concert pianist.

Helfgott becomes a nationality celebrity in Australia as a young man but suffers a mental breakdown as a result of pushing too hard. He returns to Australia and a life in an institution. Many years later he is released and starts playing a piano in a bar before finally returning to the concert hall.

Best Actor Oscar-winner Geoffrey Rush as the older adult Helfgott, Noah Taylor as the teenage adolescent Helfgott and Armin Mueller-Stahl as his over-protective, semi-abusive, German immigrant father Peter all give heart-breaking performances. Alex Rafalowicz plays Helfgott as a child.

And there’s even room for John Gielgud as the London music teacher Cecil Parkes who tutors the teenager and Lynn Redgrave as the astrologist Gillian who takes a chance on loving and marrying Helfgott.

There will surely not be a dry eye in the house.

Helfgott himself declared it the best film since Ben-Hur.

The original story is by Hicks and the screenplay by Jan Sardi. Just the one Oscar for Rush as Best Actor, though there were six other nominations, including Best Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, Score (David Hirschfelder) and Supporting Actor (Mueller-Stahl).

© Derek Winnert 2013 Classic Movie Review 292

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