MovieChat Forums > Hilary and Jackie (1999) Discussion > Portrayal of Barenboim

Portrayal of Barenboim

posted 17 years ago by marjoriem
7 replies | jump to latest

I liked this movie a lot, but I don't think it's quite fair to Barenboim.

The impression I got when I saw the movie originally (reconfirmed watching the DVD recently) was that Barenboim fairly quickly gave up on Jackie after she was diagnosed, and moved on. We see him in Paris, with a child. Jackie asks about the baby's crying -- clearly she does not know he has a new relationship. He hangs up on her, unable to tell her the truth.

n fact, many years were telescoped -- her playing started declining in 1971 and she retired in 1973. But she didn't die until 1987 & Barenboim didn't establish his relationship with Elena Baskirova, with whom he had two sons, until the 1980's. (Daniel and Elena married in 1988 after Jackie's death.

Other accounts I have read indicate that, even after he entered the relationship with Elena, he remained devoted to Jacqueline & took care of her until she died.

Based on what he's done throughout the rest of his life, especially his efforts to bring about better relationships between Palestinians and Israelis though his music, he seems to be a caring person of serious humanitarian impulses, not the rather shallow and self-centered man portrayed in the film.

[–] geoh777 17 years ago

How can we ever know what transpired between two people in a marriage? All we can do is extrapolate from our own relationships and ones we were witnesses to, such as our parents' and neighbors' marriages.

[–] sallydarren 17 years ago

My Mother always described Barenboim as the bad guy over his treatment of Jackie, but I read from other sources that Jackie begged him to leave her many years before her death because she couldn't give him children.

I think the film did him some justice really because it did portray him as doing anything in his power to give Jackie what she wanted (as in the scene where he left her in the countryside with Hilary, after suggesting that they find a similar place, etc). It also shows them as a happy couple in general in places. As has already been stated, no one really knows what goes on in a marriage except the interested parties. It is interesting to note that the film hasn't been released in France for fear of Barenboim suing. What does he have to hide? The film shows him as being there till the very end, even though he had a child in Paris. By the time of the films' release, that was old news, and wouldn't have made him look that bad.

[–] angelkolls 17 years ago

I agree. I think the movie portrays Barenboim in a sympathetic light, despite his "cheating" (even though Jackie years earlier did the same thing).

I actually think the most-poorly potrayed people were Hilary and Jackie, themselves. Hilary comes off as a complete doormat, and Jackie comes off as arrogant, infantile and selfish. It was difficult for me to empathize with or feel sympathy for either one of them.

[–] wagnerfrederic 17 years ago

concerning the issue of barenboim sueing:

why can't he sue in other countries? Does he even live in France? i thought he lives in Berlin and works in Spain, Israel, Argentina and all sorts of other places. any ideas?

i saw him conduct the east-west diwan orchestra at the farewell concert for Kofi Annan at the UN HQ in new york. it was pretty stunning! i like him.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] lilygarland 16 years ago

It's interesting that the film couldn't be show in France ....it is an extremely well made piece of work, but the subject matter is a sensitive one considering most of the main characters are all still alive. Jackie comes across as demanding and messed up and Danny isn't able to understand or cope with her problems. Eventhough Jackie cheated on him with Kiffer, ones sympathy is ultimately with Jackie, and not with Barenboim. She had the debilitating illness and didn't keep a long term lover and illegitimate kids on the sly. Maybe it's a double standard, but that's how public opinion works. He has no reason to sue, especially if all the facts check out. I can understand that he'd be pissed off though , but only because his portrayal just isn't flattering.

"I'm no Trilby!!!!"- Lily Garland in "Twentieth Century"

[–] Mrs_Glorimar 16 years ago

Sometimes, life is not flattering.