Rewatching Hilary and Jackie after reading the book

I first saw Hilary and Jackie over ten years ago, and really enjoyed it. I recently read the book, watched the Christopher Nupen documentaries about Jackie (hearing her speak and capturing her personality was fascinating), and listened to some of her playing.

Then rewatched the film.

Firstly, I think as a film, its cinematically very accomplished - some excellent editing choices, and although liberal artistic license is used it still captures the essence of a sibling rivalry conflicting with a desperate want to love each other as sisters.

But it felt way too slanted against Jackie. There is barely any recognition of her work - the montage of her travelling about has the air and graces of a busker or player in a band rather than the international celebrity that she was. The era of her teaching during that period of MS (which was over a decade) was omitted and made the illness look far more accelerated. It made it look like she was basically a clueless brat who her family weren't too interested in seeing, and this is wildly against the impression I get from the documentaries and book.

Having read more into things, particularly the account of Hilary/Kiffer's daughter who said that Kiffer was basically a womaniser who seduced vulnerable women - I feel slightly sickened now at the fact that Jackie's side of the story was never known. Anyone who sees the film without having a balanced perception will easily have a VERY distorted view of who Jackie was, and this seems tragic to me. I know my thoughts are nothing new, but thought I'd share them anyway.