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:

Music | Sister | Multiple Sclerosis | Classical Music | Cello

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
Keeley Flanders	...	Young Hilary
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

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #36170) | Singapore:NC-16 (re-rating) | Iceland:L | Netherlands:6 | 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:

Continuity: When a Japanese newspaper is shown publicizing Jackie's performance, the headline above the photo actually reported that the Japanese budget had been approved by parliament.

Quotes:

Hilary: If you think being an ordinary person is any easier than being an extraordinary one, you're wrong.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Sonata for Violoncello in G Minor

Troubling and compelling

Jacqueline du Pre is remembered as the beautiful, genius cellist who tragically died of multiple sclerosis at a young age. But this film, though a biopic, avoids the easy conventions of the tear-jerker. Instead, it portrays a talented but capricious young woman who found her rise to fame as difficult to handle, in some ways, as her subsequent decline. Three things lift it out of the ordinary: fine acting from the entire cast; a concerted attempt, in the construction of both plot and soundtrack, to genuinely convey the importance of music in her life; and an intelligent screenplay that uses the viewpoint of her sister Hilary, along with that of Jackie herself, to show her behaviour in two different lights. The veracity of the events has been disputed; but this is a complex, and ultimately moving, film.