Trivia

Director Scott Hicks gave the film certain visual refrains that appear throughout the picture, serving to underscore emotions, and to connect the different time frames. David Helfgott 's eyeglasses are one such leitmotif and highlight the character's impaired ability to "see" objective reality clearly at several points in the film. The use of David's hands, whether controlling the keys of the piano, or flailing about in moments of panic, is another such device. Finally, the use of aquatic imagery, drawn from Helfgott's extremely close relationship to water and swimming, helped tie together every part of the film, beginning with the opening images, which were set in a rainstorm. See more