Shine (1996)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Scott Hicks

Writers:

Jan Sardi (screenplay)
Scott Hicks (story)

Release Date:

20 November 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Music | Romance

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Piano | Pianist | Abuse | Concert Hall | Child Prodigy

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 38 wins & 34 nominations

Cast

Geoffrey Rush	...	David Helfgott - Adult
Justin Braine	...	Tony
Sonia Todd	...	Sylvia
Chris Haywood	...	Sam
Alex Rafalowicz	...	David Helfgott - Child
Gordon Poole	...	Eisteddfod Presenter
Armin Mueller-Stahl	...	Peter
Nicholas Bell	...	Ben Rosen
Danielle Cox	...	Suzie - Child
Rebecca Gooden	...	Margaret
Marta Kaczmarek	...	Rachel
John Cousins	...	Jim Minogue
Noah Taylor	...	David Helfgott - Adolescent
Paul Linkson	...	State Champion Announcer
Randall Berger	...	Isaac Stern

Also Known As:

Flight of the Bumblebee (Australia) (working title)
Helfgott (Australia) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for nudity/sensuality and intense thematic elements.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Brazil:18 (DVD rating) | Iceland:L | USA:PG-13 (certificate #34422) | South Korea:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Belgium:KT | Chile:14 | Finland:K-8 | Germany:12 (bw) | Netherlands:AL | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:12

Filming Locations:

Adelaide Botanic Gardens & Park, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Company:

Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC)

Trivia:

Geoffrey Rush had once learned the piano up until aged fourteen. He took up piano lessons again thirty years later for the film and also acted as his own hand double body double.

Goofs:

Continuity: The length of David Helfgott's cigarette when playing "Flight of the Bumblebee" at Moby's.

Quotes:

David: Would you marry me?
Gillian: Well, it wouldn't be very practical, David.
David: Practical? No, of course not. Of course not. But then neither am I, Gillian. Neither am I. I'm not very practical at all.
Sylvia: You'll miss the plane!
Gillian: It's sweet of you, David. I don't know what to say.
David: The stars, Gillian darling! Ask the stars!

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "The Adam and Joe Show: (#2.2)" (1997)

Soundtrack:

Funiculì, Funiculà

What a difference a 2nd viewing makes

I don't now why but when I first viewed this a few years back I did not care for it, but after watching it again I was very impressed. Maybe because I have grown more of an appreciation for classical music in that timeframe. I really don't understand how I could have missed the outstanding portrayal of the nuturing/stultifying father-son relationship, or the moving way that David can only express himself via the piano (notice how he speaks in virtually only apothems). This is a very great film.