I have not watched Shine but will check it out. Russian music hits me in the gut, It is hard not to have an emotional reaction and couple that with a story line and I can see how it could affect you in that way.
Here is the Rachmaninoff Concerto No 3. This is an amazing performance by Olga Kern, Russian, and dressed in red. No 3 is "supposed" to be the most challenging piece of the era. Nothing is easy.