Hilary and Jackie (1998)

Director:

Anand Tucker

Writers:

Hilary du Pré (book) and
Piers du Pré (book) ...

Release Date:

15 January 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Music

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Concert | London England | Jerusalem | German Flute | Family Relationships

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 19 nominations

Cast

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

MPAA:

Rated R for language and sexuality.

Runtime:

121 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:R (certificate #36170) | Netherlands:6 | Singapore:NC-16 (re-rating) | Singapore:PG (cut) | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | Finland:K-12 | Germany:12 (w) | Hong Kong:IIA | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Abbercrombe Square, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK

Company:

Arts Council of England

Trivia:

The film has never been released in France to avoid any litigation from the real life Daniel Barenboim.

Goofs:

Factual errors: 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.

Quotes:

Hilary: I've given you everything. Every since we were little, everything you've asked for I've said yes. Jackie listen. Jackie... Jackie... I'm sorry.

Movie Connections:

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

Strange Sisterhood

Hilary and Jackie is a biographical film about two contemporary English sisters, Hilary and Jacqueline du Pré. Both are musical prodigies as children, but as they mature into women, it is Jackie, the cellist, who moves on to international fame, while Hilary opts for husband and family on an English farm.

The film covers the complex, and troubling relationship between the two sisters, and Emily Watson and Rachel Griffiths give brilliant performances in the title roles. What was the Academy thinking when they were both passed over? And the music! It's always in the forefront, and helps move the story as much as the actors and screenplay.

Not to be missed, this is one of the more enjoyable (although not uplifting) movies of 1998. Well worth the cost of the rental.