Shine (1996) on Netflix
David Helfgott's father Peter teaches him piano in suburban Adelaide and demands that he win. A teacher, Mr. Rosen, takes over David's lessons. Isaac Stern invites David to study in America.
- Netflix4.2/5
- IMDb7.6/1059,359 votes
- Rotten Tomatoes91%
Trailer
Plot summary
As a child, David Helfgott plays piano in suburban Adelaide and enters a local Eisteddfod competition. His father, Peter, has taught him and wants him to win, showing no tolerance for mistakes or disobedience. At the Eisteddfod, a piano teacher named Mr. Rosen notices David and, after Peter resists, begins to instruct him. In his teens, David captures the state musical championship, and the violinist Isaac Stern invites him to study in the United States. His family first supports the plan and tries to raise money, but Peter then forbids David to leave, believing the family would fall apart without him. Peter begins to abuse David physically and mentally, which disturbs the rest of the family.
Cast
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Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Shine (1996)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- David Helfgott's sister, in her book Out of Tune, wrote that their father Peter Helfgott was a loving husband and over-lenient parent, not the abusive tyrant Shine portrays. She called his decision to stop David going overseas at 14 a reasonable judgment that he was not ready for independence.
- Scott Hicks cast Geoffrey Rush to play David Helfgott after admiring his Adelaide stage work, but met resistance from investors because Rush was then a theater actor with no major film projects to his name.
- Geoffrey Rush went back to piano lessons he had suspended at the age of 14 so that the film would not need a hand double.
- Scott Hicks decided to film David Helfgott's life after seeing him perform in Adelaide in 1985, and it took a year to persuade the pianist and his wife Gillian to agree, because Hicks was so inspired by the story.
