Hilary and Jackie MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +1 Content: -2

Based on the true life story of Jacqueline Du Pre, this film follows the lives of two sisters living in England in the mid 1900s who share a love for music and a need to be loved by others. Since childhood Hilary and Jackie (Rachel Grifith and Emily Watson) have studied music. The competition between siblings has caused Jackie to excel as a world famous cellist, while Hilary has been pushed aside by the popularity of her sister. So while Jackie travels around the world making musical history, Hilary stays at home and finds a loving husband to raise a family. But when Jackies marriage to a world-renowned pianist begins to fall apart, she runs home to her sister Hilary with a desire to share Hilarys husband, Kiffer Finzi. Although some of the musical performances in this film are stunning, the artistic and unique plot will keep HILARY AND JACKIE from appealing to a large audience. And while this film may be nominated for several awards it is likely to perform poorly at the box office.

Although HILARY AND JACKIE at first appears to be a decent family drama about sibling rivalry, it eventually proves to be a very distorted view of marriage, condoning premarital and extra-marital sex. Hilary loves her sister so much that she is willing to share her husband and family with her sister Jackie. So Jackie begins a condoned affair with Kiffer, and one actual sex scene is shown, but with no nudity. And sex is implied several times. Shortly after, Hillary begins feeling guilt for having sex with her own husband because she now sees this as a betraying her sister. Other elements further tarnish this film. Jackie is seen nude in the woods revealing brief breast nudity. And the dialog is cluttered with 17 obscenities and three regular profanities. Jackie even gives us the translation of the f word into five other foreign languages. Overall, fourteen versions of the f word and the condoning of extra-marital and premarital sex easily make HILARY AND JACKIE a menace to our popular culture.

Preview Reviewer: Rik Wyrick
Distributor: October Films, 65 Bleecker St., NY, NY 10112