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.
Acting
Geoffrey Rush's body becomes the instrument—literally
Direction
Hicks makes Rachmaninoff feel like psychological warfare
Editing
Seamless time-hopping between broken boy and scattered man
Director
Scott Hicks
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Geoffrey Rush practiced piano four hours daily for months but faked the complex pieces—his hand double was real-life Helfgott protégé Simon Tedeschi.
The real David Helfgott's concert career post-film was controversial—critics called him a novelty act, raising uncomfortable questions about who gets to define 'recovery.'
AU
