Hillary and Jackie

A movie by Anand Tucker

With Rachel Griffiths, Emily Watson, David Morrisey, James Frain

Christina says:

HILLARY AND JACKIE tells the true story of the sisters Hillary and Jacqueline DuPré as recorded by Hillary in her book "A Genius in the Family". Hillary, as a girl played by Keeley Flanders, later by Rachel Griffiths, is a talented flutist. Her sister Jackie, at first played by Auriol Evans, then by Emily Watson, plays the cello. Both are supported by their mother Iris (Celia Imrie), but where everything comes easily to Hillary, Jackie has to work hard to be successful. To be able to keep up with her beloved sister she practices like mad. Soon she is better than Hillary who has talent but no technique. Former child prodigy Hillary has to accept just being Jacqueline DuPré’s older sister while Jacqueline embarks on a brilliant career.

At first the movie focuses on Hillary who remains behind in England as Jackie stars in concerts all over the world. Hillary is not very successful as a musician, but she meets Kiffer Finzi (David Morrissey), moves to the country with him and starts a family. She rarely sees her sister until one day Jackie shows up on the farm with an unusual request. After this pivotal episode the point of view switches to Jackie. The audience follows her through the many countries, experiences her loneliness and isolation even her marriage to conductor and pianist Daniel Barenboim (James Frain) can’t break for very long. She seeks refuge in Hillary’s house, who seems to have everything Jackie longs for, but after the visit there’s a rupture in the relationship of the sisters that can’t be mended. Jackie is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and the illness puts an end to her career and causes her early death at age 42.

Thanks to its excellent lead actresses HILLARY AND JACKIE just barely escapes being too melodramatic. Rachel Griffiths, the eccentric friend in MURIEL’S WEDDING, and Emily Watson are the perfect sisters, each wanting to live the life of the other. Another asset of the movie is the music. It tells as plainly as the pictures of Jackie’s love-hate-relationship with her cello and her horror when she realizes that she is going to lose her music and everything her life is built on.

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Christina Gross

Last changes: 01/04/03