This acclaimed film paints a wrenching portrait of the life of Australian piano virtuoso David Helfgott and his struggles with his war-traumatized, demanding father; mental illness and asylum incarceration; and his obsession with the virtually unplayable Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 ("Rach 3"). Academy Award Nominations: 7, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor--Armin Mueller-Stahl. Academy Awards: Best Actor--Geoffrey Rush.
Released theatrically in New York, Los Angeles, and Toronto, November 22, 1996.
DVD features:
Region 1 encoding
Filmographies/notes/scene access/trailer
Q&A with director Scott Hicks
Geoffrey Rush's Golden Globe acceptance speech
Director of Photography
Geoffrey Simpson: Cinematographer
Production Designer
Vicki Wiehus:
Costume Designer
Louise Wakefield:
Review 1:
"...Scrappy, sexy, touching and fun....SHINE is also utterly extraordinary....Rank it with the best movies of the year..."
Source: Rolling Stone
p.92 12/12/1996
Review 2:
"...A strong, emotional narrative....Rush is quite remarkable....SHINE is mature, intelligent filmmaking..."
Source: Variety
01/22/1996
Review 3:
"...[Rush] handles the challenge superbly....SHINE is transformed into popular filmmaking at its smartest and most persuasive..."
Source: Los Angeles Times
p.F1 11/22/1996
Review 4:
"...The fact that David Helfgott lived the outlines of these events -- that he triumphed, that he fell, that he came slowly back -- adds an enormous weight of meaning to the film..."
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
p.49 11/27/1996
Review 5:
"...Strong performances....A powerful piece of work..." -- Rating: B+
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.51 12/06/1996