Hilary and Jackie (1998)

The tragic story of world renowned classic cellist Jacqueline du Pré, as told from the point of view of her sister, flautist Hilary du Pré-Finzi.

Director:

Anand Tucker

Writers:

Hilary du Pré (book), Piers du Pré (book),

Stars:

Emily Watson, Rachel Griffiths, James Frain

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 20 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Emily Watson	...	Jackie Du Pré
Rachel Griffiths	...	Hilary Du Pré
James Frain	...	Daniel Barenboin
David Morrissey	...	Kiffer Finzi
Charles Dance	...	Derek Du Pré
Celia Imrie	...	Iris Du Pré
Rupert Penry-Jones	...	Piers Du Pré
Bill Paterson	...	Cello Teacher
Auriol Evans	...	Young Jackie
Keylee Jade Flanders	...	Young Hilary (as Keeley Flanders)
Grace Chatto	...	Teena
Nyree Dawn Porter	...	Dame Margot Fonteyn
Maggie McCarthy	...	Margaret
Vernon Dobtcheff	...	Professor Bentley
Anthony Smee	...	BBC Nabob

Storyline

British sisters Hilary du Pré and Jacqueline du Pré are both talented musicians, Hilary a flautist, Jackie a cellist. With regard to their musical prowess, they have always had a friendly competitive nature with each other, fueled in large part by the want of their pianist mother, Iris, for them to achieve musical greatness. But underlying this friendliness is a deep desire to be truly better than the other. Despite or perhaps in part because of her flamboyant performance style, the younger Jackie emerges from the shadows of older Hilary's more triumphant childhood successes to become the renowned musician in the family. Although both continue with their music and both end up marrying (Hilary to Kiffer Finzi, and Jackie to pianist Daniel Barenboim), Hilary focuses on her home life, whereas Jackie focuses on her career. A seemingly odd request by Jackie to Hilary is later understood, but Hilary's agreement to that request demonstrates the true nature of their loving but unusual ...

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Plot Keywords:

concert | career | sister sister relationship | female protagonist | judaism | 

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Taglines:

The true story of two sisters who shared a passion, a madness and a man.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and sexuality

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 January 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hilary y Jackie

Filming Locations:

Abbercrombe Square, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$7,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£161,538 (UK) (12 February 1999)

Gross:

$4,874,838 (USA) (23 April 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arts Council of England, British Screen Productions, Channel Four Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The lines, "...O body swayed to music, O brightening glance, / How can we know the dancer from the dance?", are from the poem, 'Among School Children' by William Butler Yeats.

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Goofs

We see Catalan cello master Pau Casals after a concert in Madrid in the early-1960s. But Pau Casals swore never to return to Spain from exile because Franco was still in power after the coup d'état and 1939's Spanish Civil War. Franco died in 1975, two years after Casals' own death in exile.

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Quotes

Jackie du Pré: I'll play the fucking triangle, I just want to make music again!

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Connections

Featured in The 56th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1999)

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Soundtracks

"D Minor Suite for Flute, Strings"
Written by Johann Sebastian Bach
Excerpts played as part of the score

User Reviews

an interesting study of a sibling relationship

Hilary and Jackie is a film that can be appreciated on many levels. The performances of Ms. Griffith and Ms. Watson as the title characters were superb, but so were the actors that played the parents and husbands, and the two young actresses playing them as girls were terrific. All the people in the film were interesting. The film gives insight into the life of a musical genius with its rewards and triumphs as well as conflicts and sacrifices. There is also a psychological aspect at the heart of this film. From the beginning the two sisters have a bond, almost a symbiotic relationship, yet there is also intense competition. To make the presentation even more interesting the relationship is presented in two "acts", the first told from Hilary's perspective and the second from Jackie's. Whose is more real? Does it make a difference? The final scenes as MS is taking its toll on Jackie are gripping. Both actresses were deserving of their nominations. This was great entertainment! Three and half stars!!!