Hilary and Jackie

Dir: Anand Tucker

1998

****

I have a real soft spot for British films made in the mid to late 1990s and Hilary and Jackie was one of those great ones that flew under the radar somewhat. However, it came with controversy. It starred Emily Watson and Rachel Griffiths who were both at exciting points of their careers and their performances here were, in my opinion, two of their best to date. The film is about the lives and careers of British classical musician sisters Jacqueline du Pré (who played the cello) and Hilary du Pré (who played the flute). The screenplay by Frank Cottrell-Boyce is often claimed to have been based on the 1997 memoir A Genius in the Family by Piers and Hilary du Pré (Jacqueline’s siblings) which was later republished under the title Hilary and Jackie. However, thier memoir had not yet been published when Hilary and Jackie was being filmed. Cottrell-Boyce stated, "Hilary was working on the book at the same time as I was working on the film ... it was at a very early stage when we were doing the script.” The film was instead based on conversations with Hilary and Piers; unlike the book it does not claim to be the true story, and contains some fictionalised incidents. This led to controversy and criticism for allegedly distorting details in Jacqueline's life, and several personal friends of Jacqueline du Pré publicly condemned it which damaged the film rather than bring more attention, even though both Emily Watson and Rachel Griffiths were nominated for Academy Awards for their performances. The film begins in the 1960s, where sisters Hilary and Jacqueline "Jackie" du Pré both pursue musical professions after being instructed throughout their childhoods in music by their mother (played by Celia Imrie). Though Jackie rebelled against practicing as a child, she became a virtuoso in early adulthood, quickly rising to international prominence. It is suggested that Hilary’s early success pushed Jacqueline to do better out of jealousy. While Jackie tours throughout Europe, Hilary remains in London with her parents and brother, Piers, and struggles in her musical studies at the Royal Academy of Music. She becomes acquainted with a gregarious fellow student, Christopher "Kiffer" Finzi (played by David Morrissey), son of composer Gerald Finzi, and the two begin a romantic relationship. Hilary begins playing in a community orchestra, where she garners local notoriety. Jackie returns home from touring in Moscow, and pleads Hilary to get a flat with her. Instead, Hilary marries Kiffer, and the two relocate to a farmhouse in the country to start a family. Meanwhile, Jackie begins dating pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim, with whom she bonds over their mutual love of music. Her eventual conversion to Judaism and subsequent marriage to Daniel garners significant publicity. Later, Jackie arrives unannounced at Hilary and Kiffer's home, inexplicably forgoing scheduled engagements she has in Los Angeles. She confides to Hilary that she wants to have sex with Kiffer, and makes attempts to seduce him. The next day, Hilary finds Jackie stripped naked in the woods in the midst of an emotional breakdown. Daniel arrives and attempts to console her, but she is indifferent to him. Jackie remains at Hilary's home, and Hilary consents to Jackie having a sexual encounter with Kiffer, hoping it will help her work through her nervous breakdown. This, however, ultimately drives a rift between the sisters as the affair becomes emotionally suffused. Jackie leaves and resumes touring, but yearns for a different life. From Jackie's perspective, Hilary chose a life with Kiffer over their relationship. While Jackie found solace in her marriage to Daniel, she began to notice a subtle yet progressive deterioration of her motor skills and hand-eye coordination. It had in fact been unspoken anxieties over her health that led to her previous visit to Hilary's. During a live performance, Jackie finds herself unable to stand, and has to be carried offstage by Daniel. She is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and Hilary goes to visit her in hospital. Jackie remains optimistic about her diagnosis, but the disease progresses rapidly, leaving her unable to position her fingers or use a bow. Daniel continues to conduct around the world, and Jackie finds he is having an affair. As her disease progresses, she becomes paralysed before going deaf and mute. One night, Hilary goes to visit Jackie, who is in the throes of tremors, and recounts a cherished childhood memory of the two playing on the beach. Shortly after, Hilary hears news of Jackie's death on the radio. The film ends with Jackie's spirit standing on the beach where she used to play as a child, watching herself and her sister frolicking in the sand as little girls. It’s a fascinating film with some brilliant performances but when you read about the sisters and hear what Jackie's friends all say it soon becomes apparent that not all is as it seems. A group of Jackie's closest colleagues, including fellow cellists Mstislav Rostropovich and Julian Lloyd Webber, sent a bristling letter to The Times in February 1999 that included this statement from Webber: “Hilary and Jackie is an ugly film, not because it is badly made or acted - quite the reverse - but because Emily Watson's du Pré bears no resemblance to the radiant Jackie I remember so well, first as a brilliant cellist, and later when I came to know her after she contracted MS. The film woefully fails to convey Jacqueline du Pré's wonderful joy in making music and her unique ability to bring that joy to her audience. Worst of all, the book that spawned the film was written by her elder sister, Hilary, and younger brother, Piers - two siblings apparently eaten up by bitterness and jealousy.” This totally rings true when you think about the turn of events in the film. Even Clare Finzi, Hilary du Pré's own daughter, charged that the film was a "gross misinterpretation, which I cannot let go unchallenged” particularly surrounding the ‘affair’ between her father and her aunt. It is suggested that Kiffer only had sex with Jackie when it was agreed by Hilary but the truth was that Kiffer was a serial adulterer who took advantage of Jackie when she was ill and not of sound mind. It is clear to see that Hilary du Pré wanted to protect herself, indeed, in reality she was the jealous sister. I can’t really fault the film though as it always claimed that this was the story as seen through Hilary’s eyes. You can question her turn of events but they exist never the less. The film is beautifully shot and wonderfully performed, it just isn’t necessarily the truth.