'Hilary and Jackie' is rich, fast-paced tribute

"Hilary and Jackie," the new drama from October Films, relates the true story of two sisters growing up in England, both with extraordinary musical talent.

Hilary du Pré (Rachel Griffiths) is a gifted young flautist who is soon overshadowed by the cello-playing skills of her younger sister Jaqueline (Emily Watson).

Young Jackie quickly rises to fame and becomes a famous cellist touring the world, while Hilary gets married, moves to the country and starts a family.

When Jackie learns that she has a debilitating illness, she begins to wonder if everyone loves her only for her cello skills, and whether anyone will care about her when she no longer can play.

The film follows the sisters' lives from childhood to Jackie's death, but the middle of the movie diverges from a typical biographical story.

The story is first told from Hilary's point of view, showing her sister's increasingly bizarre behavior. The film then goes back and retells the story from Jackie's perspective, filling in the gaps and explaining the motivations for her actions.

Director Anand Tucker and writer Frank Cottrell Boyce successfully accomplish this non-linear storytelling by not repeating the same events from two points of view, but presenting a fast-paced narrative spanning many years, slowing down only to show key points in the sisters' lives that are necessary to tell the story.

The film explores the relationships and feelings of the characters without becoming overly sentimental. The fast pace and bits of humor sprinkled throughout keep "Hilary and Jackie" from turning into a melodramatic tragedy.

The movie is permeated by classical music, along with a moving musical score by Barrington Pheloung, and the cinematography utilizes the beautiful landscapes and architecture of Europe, creating an aurally and visually rich film.

"Hilary and Jackie" receives four out of five stars.