(1998) A biopic of the internationally famous British cellist Jacqueline du Pré (1945-1987), played by Emily Watson, and her older sister Hilary (Rachel Griffiths), director Anand Tucker's dramatization - presented from Hilary's point of view and then from Jackie's - begins with an ominous opening scene during the girls' childhood on a beach with a silhouetted figure facing the sunset and ends in a dark minor key, based on the controversial memoir, A Genius in the Family, by Hilary and her brother Piers (played by Rupert Penry-Jones).

"Talent is to be ranked according to the sensation it produces; genius according to the opposition it arouses," wrote Sřren Kierkegaard: "Talent adapts itself immediately and directly; genius does not adapt itself to the given circumstances."

After Jackie is told by a man at the BBC, "Your sister's a remarkable girl," at playing the flute, she strives to improve at playing the cello to achieve recognition. The girls' parents - Iris (Celia Imrie) especially and Derek (Charles Dance) - encourage and indulge Hilary and Jackie's artistic talents, though later at a low point Jackie says they were "trained freaks."

Taking lessons from a private tutor (Bill Paterson), Jackie bursts forth as a brilliant musician, touring Europe and Russia, while Hilary's confidence in her musicianship gets crushed by a tyrannical professor. Yet though she's becoming famous, Jackie's alone without anyone special (sending her laundry back to her parents in London so that when the clothes return to her she exclaims: "This is what my home smells like"), while Hilary captures the professional and romantic interest of conductor Christopher "Kiffer" Frinzi (David Morrissey).

Back home, Jackie tries to dissuade her sister from marrying by suggesting they get a flat together - after showing Hilary her Dutch-cap contraceptive - where they can have all the men they want. Earlier during a recital Jackie apologizes to the audience, "Excuse me ladies and gentlemen, I have broken my A string," then as she goes off stage remarks: "At least it wasn't my G string." But all of her strings are stretched to the breaking point.

She converts to Judaism and marries the Argentine pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim (James Frain) - "Would you still love me if I couldn't play?" - then unexpectedly appears unaccompanied at Hilary and Kiffer's country cottage, where her sister's become someone ordinary with chickens and children, wanting proof of love from both Hilary and Kiffer.

Out of exasperation with her extraordinary sibling (if it weren't for her cello she'd be nothing), Hilary says: "I've given you everything. Ever since we were little, everything you've asked for I've said yes," including Kiffer. What at first appears to be a nervous breakdown spiraling toward madness is the onset of multiple sclerosis.

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