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.