David Helfgott, the brilliant but troubled Australian pianist, is giving thumbs up to "Shine," the movie about his life.
"It's the greatest movie ever made," he told The New York Times. The movie portrays Helfgott's tortured life as a piano prodigy whose father refused to let him study abroad. Helfgott, 49, wound up spending 10 years in mental institutions but returned to his music by playing Perth piano bars.The movie has sparked new interest in Helfgott, who still suffers from what his wife calls "genius and madness." He will soon embark on a 10-month tour of the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. His New York performance sold out in three days.