Helfgott had quite a lot of sucess before the movie Shine. Perhaps the movie allowed him to go overseas to places normally he wouldn't go, but he had a big career in Australia before Shine.
I have been to many of his concerts and have met him a number of times. His younger sister lives in my home town Mandurah which is just south of Perth in West Australia and he has peformed there many times. His playing is very expressive but it does leave what is written sometimes. However if you stop and just try to listen to the sound he produces, it is really special stuff. He has many quirks while playing, makes a lot of noise, you pray you get a seat facing his back rather that front because the noise can get louder than the music sometimes! When he buttons up or unbuttons his shirt he misses notes even, or when he looks at the audience while playing grinning!
He is who he is, and really don't think these things are put on. People get disturbed and say, it's a circus act! Some say, hey look at this guy, he's freaky! I think if you have an understanding of the sensitivity of the human mind you will be quite moved by the disorder that exists in Helfgott. But what is more facinating is how the disorder cannot destroy the music he produces. There is a real tension when you watch Helfgott play, you can't help but sense the chaotic mind somehow ordered with the music produced and then also sometimes the chaos disordering the music.
Topic: David Helfgott