Hilary and Jackie – 1998 | 125 mins | Drama | Colour

Plot Synopsis

The controversial real-life biopic of gifted cellist Jaqueline Du Pre that draws heavily from Hilary and Piers intimate memoirs A Genius in the Family. What begins as a success story; two gifted musicians in love, turns to tragedy when Jacqueline is diagnosed with an illness. Hilary and Jackie features remarkable Academy Award nominated central performances from Australian actress Rachel Griffiths as Hilary and Emily Watson as Jackie.

Hilary and Jacqueline du Pré are gifted sisters who grow up in 1950s England and compete for musical accolades and love. Hilary (Rachel Griffiths) is a talented flutist, but it’s her younger sister, Jackie (Emily Watson), who is the tortured musical “genius” cellist. Though extremely close as children, sibling rivalry and jealousy begin to intensify as the younger sister Jackie eventually becomes an egocentric international star, marrying eminent pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim (James Frain). Hilary marries her true love, the ebullient conductor Kiffer Finzi (David Morrissey), and settles in a beautiful country home with her two children. Hilary receives an unexpected visit from Jackie, demanding her sister allow her the chance to live a normal life and to sleep with Kiffer. Hilary is appalled, but consents. Later, Jackie suffers from multiple sclerosis, and the sisters strive to repair the emotional damage of their volatile relationship.