Drama

Shine

- A true story of the mystery of music and the miracle of love

Pianist David Helfgott, driven by his father and teachers, has a breakdown. Years later he returns to the piano, to popular if not critical acclaim.

Release Date : 1996-08-15

Language :EnglishYiddish

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Fine Line FeaturesFilm VictoriaSouth Australian Feature Film CompanyAustralian Film Finance Corporation

Production Country : AustraliaUnited Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : David as an adult

Original Name : Geoffrey Rush

Gender : Male

Character Name : David as an adolescent

Original Name : Noah Taylor

Gender : Male

Character Name : Peter

Original Name : Armin Mueller-Stahl

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gillian

Original Name : Lynn Redgrave

Gender : Female

Character Name : Katharine Susannah Prichard

Original Name : Googie Withers

Gender : Female

Character Name : Sylvia

Original Name : Sonia Todd

Gender : Female

Character Name : Ben Rosen

Original Name : Nicholas Bell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cecil Parkes

Original Name : John Gielgud

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tony

Original Name : Justin Braine

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sam

Original Name : Chris Haywood

Gender : Male

Character Name : David as a child

Original Name : Alex Rafalowicz

Gender : Male

Character Name : Eisteddfod Presenter

Original Name : Gordon Poole

Gender : Male

Character Name : Suzie as a child

Original Name : Danielle Cox

Gender : Male

Character Name : Margaret

Original Name : Rebecca Gooden

Gender : Male

Character Name : Rachel

Original Name : Marta Kaczmarek

Gender : Female

Character Name : Jim Minogue

Original Name : John Cousins

Gender : Male

Character Name : State Champion Announcer

Original Name : Paul Linkson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Isaac Stern

Original Name : Randall Berger

Gender : Male

Character Name : Boy Next Door

Original Name : Ian Welbourne

Gender : Male

Character Name : Louise as a baby

Original Name : Kelly Bottrill

Gender : Male

Character Name : Rabbi

Original Name : Beverley Vaughan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Synagogue Secretary

Original Name : Phyllis Burford

Gender : Male

Character Name : Society Hostess

Original Name : Daphne Grey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Soviet Society Secretary

Original Name : Edwin Hodgeman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sonia

Original Name : Maria Dafneros

Gender : Female

Character Name : Postman

Original Name : Reis Porter

Gender : Male

Character Name : Roger Woodward (younger)

Original Name : Stephen Sheehan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Announcer

Original Name : Brenton Whittle

Gender : Male

Character Name : Suzie as a teenager

Original Name : Marianna Doherty

Gender : Male

Character Name : Louise as a child

Original Name : Camilla James

Gender : Male

Character Name : Viney

Original Name : David King

Gender : Male

Character Name : Registrar

Original Name : Danny Davies

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sarah

Original Name : Helen Dowell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Muriel

Original Name : Louise Dorling

Gender : Male

Character Name : Student

Original Name : Seán Carlsen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ashley

Original Name : Richard Hansell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Robert

Original Name : Robert Hands

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ray

Original Name : Marc Warren

Gender : Male

Character Name : RCOM Conductor

Original Name : Neil Thomson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Suzie as an adult

Original Name : Joey Kennedy

Gender : Female

Character Name : Nurse

Original Name : Ellen Cressey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Beryl Alcott

Original Name : Beverley Dunn

Gender : Female

Character Name : Bar Customer

Original Name : Andy Seymour

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jessica

Original Name : Ella Scott Lynch

Gender : Female

Character Name : Rowan

Original Name : Jethro Heysen-Hicks

Gender : Male

Character Name : Roger Woodward (older)

Original Name : John Martin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Celebrant

Original Name : Bill Boyley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Opera Singer

Original Name : Teresa La Rocca

Gender : Male

Character Name : Opera Singer

Original Name : Lindsey Day

Gender : Male

Character Name : Opera Singer

Original Name : Grant Doyle

Gender : Male

Character Name : Musician

Original Name : Leah Jennings

Gender : Male

Character Name : Musician

Original Name : Kathy Monaghan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Musician

Original Name : Mark Lawrence

Gender : Male

Character Name : Musician

Original Name : Gordon Coombes

Gender : Male

Character Name : Musician

Original Name : Luke Dollman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Musician

Original Name : Margaret Stone

Gender : Male

Character Name : Musician

Original Name : Tom Carrig

Gender : Male

Character Name : Musician

Original Name : Helen Ayres

Gender : Male

Character Name : Vocalist

Original Name : Suzi Jarratt

Gender : Male

Character Name : Vocalist

Original Name : Samantha McDonald

Gender : Male

Character Name : Priest (uncredited)

Original Name : Peter Osborn

Gender : Male

Character Name : Restaurant Customer (uncredited)

Original Name : Sandi Gardiner

Gender : Female

Reviews

Filipe Manuel Neto

@FilipeManuelNeto

2023-05-20

**Perhaps one of the most striking films in the work of Geoffrey Rush, and one of the toughest and most sincere portrayals of brilliance that cinema has seen to date.** Even though I'm a pretty serious music lover, and I've always loved classical music, I didn't know David Helfgott until I saw this film. The musical universe is full of prodigies who reveal talent since childhood. Mozart is perhaps the most famous example of this. However, it is one of those subjects that I feel we tend to overestimate, because you can also find prodigious children in other areas of knowledge, including the Human Sciences. It is, however, curious that we have so few examples of musical geniuses with solid and successful careers. Most pianists and musical performers, no matter how talented they are, depend more on their self-discipline and intensive training than on their basic talent. Helfgott, according to this film, had a difficult childhood, at the hands of an overbearing father, who basically pushed him towards a music career, realizing his talent. The problem is that the situation demanded a lot from the young genius, causing him to develop schizophrenia and several other mental problems. With serious speech problems (he stutters and talks compulsively), he is also incapable of maintaining a conventional relationship with the people around him. Of course, in the long run, we'll see how he gets around the difficulties and achieves consecration. Helfgott is played by several actors, but it is Geoffrey Rush who shines in the role. The actor was able, in this film, to cross the doors of international cinema thanks to one of the most complete and immersive portrayals of genius in cinema. Appearing on stage when the film is already halfway through, he dominates the entire work, imposing himself, demanding our attention, deserving applause. Even if the film no longer had any reason to merit – it does! – seeing the performance of this British actor would always be more than enough reason to justify a trip to the cinema. However, he is not alone: the film also gives us an excellent interpretation of Armin Mueller-Stahl in the role of the father, demanding and domineering. Noah Taylor, who gives life to the character of Helfgott in his youth, also leaves us with a job well done and of value. The script and direction also deserve a note of praise. Scott Hicks, who performs both tasks, has managed to create a film that is deeply dramatic, intense, capable of moving and making us think, without making the mistake of making it overly melodramatic or presenting things that are too dark and pessimistic. The film is deeply emotional, it even has several intense, almost painful scenes, but it is never a heavy film. In addition, the film makes a very clever use of cinematography and the soundtrack to lighten or thicken the entire environment in which the action takes place. In addition to the pieces by Rachmaninoff – a piano genius, but who finds equivalents in composers such as Chopin, Scriabin or Liszt, author of the naive but terribly demanding “La Campanella”, for me the most difficult solo piano – the film has a vast repertoire of classical pieces skillfully inserted into the soundtrack. It's worth seeing how they are used in the film.