Scott Hicks's Shine Film Techniques

Shine, an award winning film directed by Scott Hicks, depicts the life of musical genius David Helfgott and the challenges and suffering he overcame in his life. Through a variety of film techniques Hicks is able to capture certain aspects of the human condition such as that of isolation, deprivation of freedom and one's longing to be loved and cared about. Shine is also highly inspirational, illustrating a person's ability to move forward in life despite facing the debilitating effects of psychological trauma. Drawing upon several allusions and visual and plot devices, Hicks is able to accurately depict the life of David Helfgott and outstanding aspects of the human condition within it.

Throughout Shine, Hicks employs powerful film techniques
Allusions to Nazi concentration camps are drawn with unnerving images of barbed wire and extensive barricading in the Helfgott residence, further emphasizing the deprivation of freedom faced by David and other members of the family. The overbearing and suffocating love Peter gives his son appears to be more detrimental then beneficial towards David's growth and development. Peter Helfgott's domineering patriarchal nature is further accentuated in the repetition of the lines "No one will love you like me…no one" and "You are a very lucky boy, David" which confirm the complete dominance and control his father has over him; David is a prisoner of his father's love. Powerful symbolism is used to stress the isolation David faces through the violent closing of the window blinds by Peter Helfgott, signifying the severing of all ties David has with his family and most importantly, his father. Hicks also manipulates aural and auditory aspects of the musical score and sound such as the use of dramatic crescendos to heighten moments of significance within the film. Symbolic visual effects of flames in Peter Helfgott's eyes also add to the highly emotive atmospheres evoked by