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To see a simple English version of reviews about some of the movies, click on the  ESL section of Midnight Oil.

Entries in John Gielgud (1)

Shine (1996)

“Shine”(1996)  tells the story of Australian pianist, David Helfgott, a man whose artistic talents and fragile mental state are negatively impacted by the post-war trauma of his troubled father. Helfgott makes an unlikely comeback after a dramatic mental breakdown and institutionalization. Geoffrey Rush (adult) and Noah Taylor (adolescent) both won critical acclaim for their portrayal of Helfgott’s character. While the issue of whether “Shine” tells the “entirely true” story of the child prodigy gone wrong may be debatable, what is clear is that this film certainly is a good story worth listening to in its empathetic treatment of the individual and the artist.

The film “Shine”(1996) was previously presented in the context of TVOntario’s “Brain Week – From Brilliant to Broken” . Be sure to catch the SNAM Interviews for “Shine” called “Art and Madness”, a most interesting examination of the relationship of mental illness and artistic genius as depicted in film.

>> Real Life: John Castro may sing Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" a bit differently than some versions you have heard. John talks about his passion for music and why he did not appear to be the typical contestant on American idol. (There's more to it than sporting a ukulele on stage.)

>>More to see: Looking for more out of life?

See the video trailer for the movie "Shine" (1996)