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Shine

Shine

Drama · 1996

Pianist David Helfgott, driven by his father and teachers, has a breakdown. Years later he returns to the piano, to popular if not critical acclaim.

Movie details

Shine

“A true story of the mystery of music and the miracle of love”

1996 Drama 1h 45m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.4 / 10

Community rating

Pianist David Helfgott, driven by his father and teachers, has a breakdown. Years later he returns to the piano, to popular if not critical acclaim.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Shine?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Experimenter

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Scott Hicks

Written by

Jan Sardi · Scott Hicks

Geoffrey Rush

Geoffrey Rush

David Helfgott - Adult

Noah Taylor

Noah Taylor

David Helfgott - Adolescent

Armin Mueller-Stahl

Armin Mueller-Stahl

Peter

Lynn Redgrave

Lynn Redgrave

Gillian

Googie Withers

Googie Withers

Katharine Susannah Prichard

Sonia Todd

Sonia Todd

Sylvia

Nicholas Bell

Nicholas Bell

Ben Rosen

Court is in session

Put Shine on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.