The topic regarding the destiny of a genius occupies a certain niche in cinema, simultaneously appearing neither exclusively rare nor especially popular. This topic, unfortunately, is most likely to be marked with a known moral estimation, including both the cases of positive genii, such as writers, composers, musicians, and the cases of negative genii represented by criminals. In a manner, this topic reminds other thriller movies, with the exception that in the first case the hero has the real life prototype.
David Helfgott, the piano virtuoso, is a well known musician whose popularity has spread far beyond his homeland. Geoffrey Rush exposes Helfgott's personality in a deep stage of mental affection, followed by perfect strangers and visited rarely by his relatives. Silent, clumsy, good-natured, the character appears a person without age, memories, cornered within the frames of restriction found in his clinic, where he lives under medical supervision. In rare the hours of irradiation, the protagonist becomes overjoyed with childish laughter, runs through the park without looking around, swims in the buff, and jumps on a trampoline with no end. To be himself, however, proves a difficult task for David, and he can find rescue solely in his piano playing.
During the plot development, it can be observed that the movie exaggerates and promotes the subject of David's obsession with performing the Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor by Sergei Rachmaninoff. His teachers allegedly tried to dissuade Helfgott from performing this composition onstage, assuring that he was not ready to do it. With that, Helfgott's father was an ardent admirer of Rachmaninoff's art, was angry with the teachers, and attempted to do all his best for his son to declare himself. According to David's father, for his son to reveal his genius throughout the world, he only had to find a proper teacher, which later influenced the musician himself. During his career, David continues to perform onstage when he is eventually invited to the Royal College of Music. At college, the musician wins Dannreuther Prize for the best onstage performance for the very Rachmaninoff composition he had been so utterly passionate about (Colli, 2013, Rise and Shine). At the same time, David's organism revealed the first signs of schizoaffective disorder (Mueser, 2003, Integrated Treatment, p. 369).
The disease marked a turning point in the musician's life. Characterized by the feeling of sorrow, uselessness and hopelessness, along with other problems including the deterioration in concentration ability and remembering detailed information, David faces a serious psychic disease, entailed by the symptoms of two ailments: schizophrenia and affective disorder, as well as depression bipolar disorder (Mueser, 2003, Integrated Treatment, pp. 287, 369-372). Since the bipolar disorder is characterized by a sudden shift in moods, including various delusions and depressions, corresponding nursing interventions have to take place during the treatment of the patient represented by the film protagonist (Mueser, 2003, Integrated Treatment, p. 287). Particularly, David is forbidden to concentrate on his delusions and hallucinations, which is also extended to the nursing responsibilities. Instead, the patient should be involved in an interplay based upon the surrounding reality (Schizophrenia Nursing Interventions). It is crucial for the patient, furthermore, to be completely insulated from his delusions before engaging in a conversation. It is also important to establish a planned interaction, including private activities, as well as social training, at the same time providing honesty and straightforwardness during the interplay (Schizophrenia Nursing Interventions). The movie protagonist seems to be disregarded by all his relatives, including father, who only makes an appearance by the end of the movie. It is essential, therefore, to establish a strong communicative connection, and allot the necessary freedom of choice, to remain empathic and unambiguous (Austin, Boyd, 2010, Psychiatric & Mental Health, pp. 384-385). In the final analysis, the movie introduces the destiny of a great musician, who continues to perform onstage despite his burden. Though there exists no practical possibility to recover from schizoaffective disorder, it is possible to control the symptoms with the proper treatment.
References
Austin, W., Boyd, M., & Austin, W. (2010). Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing for Canadian Practice (pp. 384-385). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Colli, I. (2013, August 28). Rise and Shine with David Helfgott. Retrieved January 26, 2016, from http://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/Article/354932,rise-and-shine-with- david-helfgott.aspx
Mueser, K. T. (2003). Integrated Treatment for Dual Disorders: A guide to Effective Practice (pp. 287, 369-372). New York: Guilford Press.
Schizophrenia Nursing Interventions. Retrieved January 26, 2016, from http://nandanursingdiagnoses.blogspot.com.by/2011/11/schizophrenia-nursing- interventions.html
