This is an exceptionally powerful movie, and it stands out as one of the most remarkable works in Geoffrey Rush’s career, offering a sincere and challenging depiction of brilliance rarely seen on screen. I consider myself a dedicated music fan—classical music especially—but I wasn't familiar with David Helfgott until watching this film. The world of music is full of people who display extraordinary talent from a young age; Mozart is probably the most well-known example. However, it’s easy to overemphasize these cases, because you also find children demonstrating exceptional abilities in other fields, including the humanities. It's interesting that there are so few musical geniuses who go on to have stable and successful careers. Most pianists and musicians, regardless of their talent, rely more on self-discipline and rigorous training than innate ability. According to this film, Helfgott experienced a difficult childhood due to his father’s intense pressure to pursue a music career, capitalizing on his talent. This situation placed considerable demands on the young prodigy, contributing to the development of schizophrenia and other mental health issues. He also struggles with severe speech impediments—stuttering and compulsive talking—making it hard for him to form normal relationships. Eventually, we see how he overcomes these obstacles and achieves recognition. Several actors portray Helfgott, but Geoffrey Rush delivers a truly exceptional performance. This film was instrumental in launching his international career thanks to one of the most complete and immersive portrayals of genius ever committed to film. He enters the story roughly halfway through and quickly takes over, commanding attention and deserving applause. Even if the movie didn’t have any other merits—which it does!—seeing Rush's performance would be reason enough to go to the cinema. The cast is strong overall; Armin Mueller-Stahl also provides a noteworthy interpretation of the demanding and controlling father, while Noah Taylor’s portrayal of Helfgott in his youth is well done as well. The writing and direction are also deserving of praise. Scott Hicks, who handles both roles, created a deeply dramatic and intense film that moves you and makes you think, without falling into melodrama or presenting an overly dark or pessimistic view. The film is emotionally resonant; it has several very moving and even painful scenes, but never feels oppressive. Furthermore, the filmmakers use cinematography and the musical score skillfully to adjust the atmosphere—sometimes lightening it, sometimes intensifying it. Along with pieces by Rachmaninoff – a piano genius who shares qualities with composers like Chopin, Scriabin, or Liszt (author of “La Campanella,” which is naive but incredibly difficult)—the film features an extensive selection of classical music that’s cleverly integrated into the soundtrack. It's worth paying attention to how these pieces are used.

Source on TMDB