Clara's Heart (1988)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Robert Mulligan

Writers (WGA):

Joseph Olshan (novel)
Mark Medoff (screenplay)

Release Date:

7 October 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

David is a teenager whose parents are in a deteriorating marriage after their infant daughter dies....

Plot Keywords:

Rape | Racism | Jamaica | Divorce | Melodrama

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Whoopi Goldberg	...	Clara Mayfield
Michael Ontkean	...	Bill Hart
Kathleen Quinlan	...	Leona Hart
Neil Patrick Harris	...	David Hart
Spalding Gray	...	Dr. Peter Epstein
Beverly Todd	...	Dora
Hattie Winston	...	Blanche Loudon
Jason Downs	...	Alan Lipsky
Caitlin Thompson	...	Celeste
Maria Broom	...	Felicia
Wanda Christine	...	Lydia
Maryce Carter	...	Babs
Angel Harper	...	Rita
Father Joseph Muth	...	Father Jo
Warren Long	...	Leo

Runtime:

Netherlands:108 min | USA:108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:PG-13 | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Company:

MTM Enterprises

Quotes:

Clara Mayfield: [introducing David to her friend Blanche]
[spoken with Jamaican patois]
Clara Mayfield: Ah... der be da tarment of me existence. Dey call him Devid.
David Hart: Chow Bobo. Me not da tarment of HER existence. In dis house, de tarment is everywhere and de Ja-MEEEEEEEE-can woman tarment me fa certain as much as me tarment her.
Blanche Loudon: Where him learn patois?
Clara Mayfield: Only one place I can think of.
Blanche Loudon: Dahn talk dat way. Anly looooow class people talk dat way.
Clara Mayfield: Child, dan't encourage him.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008)

Soundtrack:

Extended Beat

Funny, sad and realistic

I recently saw this movie for the second time. The first time I was 13 years old, and while I really enjoyed it then, it was certainly worth a second viewing as an adult. This movie has so many layers... Whoopi Goldberg is brilliant in her role as a Jamaican housekeeper, and both she and Neil Patrick Harris are quite witty... at times I found myself laughing out loud at their sarcastic banter. Besides making me laugh and cry, this movie also makes me angry... David's parents seem so self-absorbed and unconcerned about their son's welfare. I really felt sorry for him, and glad he had Clara. The ending is refreshing in that it is not a sappy "happily ever after", but also not horrible... it's nice to see something realistic for a change.