Shine (Scott Hicks, 1996) profiles the formative years of the acclaimed pianist David Helfgott – a child musical prodigy who struggled with mental health.
After the long voyage from Scotland, Ada McGrath (Holly Hunter) and daughter Flora (Anna Paquin) are camped on a New Zealand beach, in a tent made from Ada’s skirt hoops.
The Kaboodle opening titles run into the first story: ‘Molly Makes Music’. While Molly (voiced by Cara Schwarz) is out for the day, removalists arrive at her house.
Flora (Anna Paquin) and the Maori children play a sexually suggestive game amongst the trees, watched by the Maori women. Mr Stewart (Sam Neill) stops Flora, telling her never to behave that way.
David’s music teacher Mr Rosen (Nicholas Bell) pleads with Mr Helfgott (Armin Mueller-Stahl) to let David take up an offer of a music scholarship in America.
