SHINE
Sherrie Lee
Directed by: Scott Hicks
Produced by: Fine Line Features / Momentum Films
Cast: Armin Mueller-Stahl (Peter (David's father), Geoffrey Rush (David Helfgott), Noah Taylor (David Helfgott), Lynn Redgrave (Gillian Helfgott), Googie Withers (Katharine Susannah Prichard), Sonia Todd (Sylvia), Nicholas Bell (Ben Rosen), John Gielgud (Cecil Parkes)
Runtime: Approx. 104 Minutes
Rating: ***** out of *****
This biographical portrayal of Australian piano prodigy David Helfgott, side-tracks the clichéd tactics but opts for recurring images and phrases to express the inexpressible contained within the emotionally disturbed 40-year old. The film is told in a s eries of flashbacks, each transition emotive without the loss of the sense of the main character, David (Geoffrey Rush). While director Scott Hicks tells the tale in a restrained manner most of the time, the driving force of the film lies within Armin Mue ller-Stahl who plays David's father, Peter.
We see in the 50s, Peter, the loving yet ever possessive father, obsessed with cultivating young David (Alex Rafalowicz) into a world class pianist. Although Peter lacks musical training, David's natural talent takes over and impresses one of the judges, Ben Rosen (Nicholas Bell) during a piano competition. After much persuasion, Peter allows Ben to coach his precious son, eager for David to master "the most difficult piece in the world", Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 3.
David (Noah Taylor) is well groomed into a fine pianist, winning various competitions and even gets invited to study in a prestigious college in the United States. However, even when the funds have been raised, Peter vehemently objects and David obeys hi s father's wishes. But when David is offered a scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music in London, it is too good to pass up, even if it means having his father disown him. He goes to London and finally masters the "Rach 3", only to suffer a bre akdown after the performance and be institutionalised for nearly two decades.
Noah Taylor takes centerstage during most of the flashbacks, and manages to bring out David's eccentric characteristics without sacrificing his child-like qualities. One cannot forget David's performance of the "Rach 3" at the Albert Hall, with his eyes shut tightly, beads of sweat flung about in slow motion, and the thunderous chords no more than muted piano keys in his mind. His total concentration and determination to please his father was all encapsulated in that silent sequence.
But all for nothing. Peter never forgives him for leaving. Scarred by the Holocaust, Peter's fears of losing his family are only made more real by his uncontrollable domineering position. David has always been forced to repeat the phrase, "I am a very lu cky boy" and is still made to do so when Peter visits him as an adult. Mueller-Stahl never fails to maintain Peter's tough love and at the same time, exercises his overwhelming presence as the force behind David's emotional torture. While the story explor es other relationships David had with other people like Socialist author Katherine Prichard (Googie Withers), none is so powerfully and emotionally charged like the one between father and son.
Geoffrey Rush's performance of the mentally-disabled David Helfgott does not sink into the exploration of psychotic madness. Instead, his stream of consciousness type of babbling is an affirmation of his life-embracing attitude. Throughout David's life, we see his fixation with water where he seems to find his peace. In his adulthood, there is less of silent contemplation in the bathtub and more jubilant, child-like excitement of playing with water. We see how the reserved and elusive David struggles to fight with his personal demons through painful flashbacks, ending in a shining victory.
The Flying Inkpot Rating System:
* Wait for the TV2 broadcast.
** A little creaky, but still better than staying at home with Gotcha!
*** Pretty good, bring a friend.
**** Amazing, potent stuff.
***** Perfection. See it twice.
Sherrie is a tiny mushroom living at the edge of a huge wart on top of Grounar's nose. Who is Grounar? Ask her yourself.Read other movie reviews at the Inkpot
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