Shine! Shine!

Rating: 10/10 (2 March 2006)

It's hard to be an artist, both talented and in turmoil by inner demons like David Helfgott. Geoffrey Rush deserved his Oscar for this role. He truly brings the character alive and well to the audiences. Lynn Redgrave deserved a supporting actress nomination for her performance as the woman who would turn out to be the love of David's life. Googie Withers, one of Australia's best known actresses, played beloved Catherine, his mentor and financier in David's younger years. John Gielgud has a brief but memorable performance. I like the fact that they filmed this film in both Australia and England. This film really examines mental illness and how David triumphs over the odds. He was down and out and forgotten. Somehow when you hear his music, you remember how much he triumphed over the odds. Despite his mental breakdown at what would have been the beginning of an extraordinary career, he was down but not out. He had to recover and slowly work his way back to the living. When David plays music, he becomes alive and genius to us. Many people have been where David has been and are still going through the pains of life. This movie is an inspiration for all of us, artists-writer, performers, painters to get up and rise again. When he returns to play live in a small Perth bar, you get chills down your spine. It's a great kind of film and you wish to be in Perth, Australia.