Shine Movie Review 1995

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.

Distribution

New Line Home Video, 116 N. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048, Phone: (310)854-5811, Fax: (310)854-1824, URL: http://www.newline.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 105 minutes.
Originally from Australian.

Cast and Crew

Genres

True Stories, Biopics: Musicians, Bad Dads, Teen Angst, London, Down Under

Screenplay

Jan Sardi

Cast

Geoffrey Rush, Noah Taylor, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Lynn Redgrave, John Gielgud, Googie Withers, Chris Haywood, Sonia Todd, Alex Rafalowicz, Randall Berger

Cinematography

Geoffrey Simpson

Director

Scott Hicks

Music

David Hirschfelder

Producer

Jane Scott, Australian Film Finance Corp., South Australian Film Corporation, Film Victoria, Momentum Films, Fine Line Features

Awards

Oscars 1996: Actor (Rush); Australian Film Inst. 1996: Actor (Rush), Cinematog., Director (Hicks), Film, Film Editing, Orig. Screenplay, Sound, Support. Actor (Mueller-Stahl), Score; British Acad. 1996: Actor (Rush); Golden Globes 1997: Actor--Drama (Rush); L.A. Film Critics 1996: Actor (Rush); Natl. Bd. of Review 1996: Film; N.Y. Film Critics 1996: Actor (Rush); Screen Actors Guild 1996: Actor (Rush); Broadcast Film Critics 1996: Actor (Rush).