Claire Conger

Shine (1996) turns out to be a rather romantic movie. It’s the story of a young prodigy pianist who loses it at music college, turns into a pleasure-seeking adult without proper social constraints, an idiot-savant, if you will, and ends up getting lucky in middle age.

The movie is a loose adaption of the life of David Helfgott, an Australian concert pianist.

Shine portrays David’s father as domineering to the point that David suffers “anxiety neurosis” by the time he leaves home for college. Various people are compelled by his talent: they supply lessons, advice, and scholarship funds, and, after he turns into a happily babbling idiot, basic help in living. (What David really needs a manservant to follow him around and set things straight. A woman servant wouldn’t do—he’d be grabbing at her!)

David lucks out when he finds Gillian, his real-life wife, who enjoys his lovingness and talent, and, according to the movie, is more amused than dismayed by his upheavels of the household.