Clara's Heart

source: Clara's Heart

I recently caught this on TV, and gave it a chance based on the strength of Whoopi Goldberg. In his first acting role Neil Patrick Harris is David a teenager whose parents are in a crumbling marriage after their infant daughter dies. Clara (Whoopi Goldberg) is a chambermaid at a Jamaican resort who's hired to be a housekeeper. After a rocky start she and David develop a close bond. As much as I enjoy Goldberg's comedy roles like "Sister Act" I love it when she does serious work like this. She is an excellent dramatic actress, that should have had more top roles. Patrick Harris is simply superb, and was nominated for a Golden Globe for his work here. David's parents seem so self-absorbed and unconcerned about their son's welfare. I really felt sorry for him. The ending is not a "happily ever after" one, but also not horrible either.... it's nice to see something realistic for a change. It reminded me of the ending to Mrs Doubtfire.

Movie was awesome , I love the story line and I love the message that came with the movie . Movie definitely gives you another perspective of life . And the story really touches deep within people who experience the same situation. Especially a love for another stranger ! Loved it !

besides the fact that Whoopi Goldberg and Spalding Gray are in this film, this is a very nice set-piece for families in America, who "have it all" yet something is missing. Whoopi Goldberg and Spalding Gray (recently deceased) are the bookends of a tragic story of yet another family that does not work out. Katherine Quinlan, Neil Patrick Harris, and Michael Ontkean are the family, who cannot hold it together after a baby dies. The shores of Baltimore are well-filmed and beautiful, as well as the scenes in Jamaica, where Quinlan befriends Goldberg, and learns about the complexities of life. This is a film worth watching because there are no pat answers. The audience sees a story true to life, and empathizes with the actors. The cinematography is also noteworthy, and anyone who has experienced loss will not regret watching this film. 9/10.

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.

My review was written in September 1988 after a screening on Manhattan's UES. Buoyed by a beautifully measured star turn by Whoopi Goldberg and a smashing screen debut for young Neil Patrick Harris, "Clara's Heart" is a powerful, unabashedly sentimental drama that should win over class audiences everywhere. Adaptation by Mark Medoff of Joseph Olshan's novel pays attention to the values of a well-wrought character study of a noble Jamaican servant (Goldberg) and the young rich kid (Harris) she guides through adolescent rites of passage. Pic marks a strong return to the screen (after the 1982 flop "Kiss Me Goodbye") of director Robert Mulligan, projecting the qualities of his best work, including "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Summer of '42". Goldberg enters Harris' spoiled, uppercrust world in a family mansion outside Baltimore in a roundabout fashion: Harris' weepy mom (Kathleen Quinlan) is vacationing in Jamaica with hubby (Michael Ontkean), tormented by the death of her infant daughter, when the hotel maid Clara, played by Goldberg, brings her back to life with doses of folk wisdom. Young Harris has a conniption fit when his parents return home with the Jamaican nanny to lord over him and serve as Quinlan's live-in companion/housekeeper. Second-act plot twists involve the breakup of Quinlan's marriage, occasioned by Ontkean's philandering and her taking up with a self-help guru, Dr. Epstein (Spalding Gray). Broken-home theatrics drive the boy into Goldberg's arms, providing irresistible, folksy good humor as the precocious young thesp mimics her Jamaican accent and begins to fit in with Blanche (Hattie Winston) and Goldberg's other Jamaican friends living in Baltimore. Fly in the ointment comes with Goldberg's old-time foe from the Islands, Dora (Beverly Todd), who goads Harris to find out his nanny's deep, dark secret by rifling the red suitcase she keeps hidden under her bed. Third-act verbal revelation scene tastefully addresses such strong topics as rape and incest with care; less effective is film's climax in which the disillusioned boy hurls a racial slur at Goldberg when he feels abandoned by her. Harris plays the scene well and there can be no questioning of the filmmakers' motives, but it still hurts the mood of an otherwise tightly honed production. Reunion coda is a bit distended, but ends pic on an upbeat note of closure and inspiration. Captured in lush autumnal hues by ace British lenser Freddie Francis, "Clara's Heart" is a beauty to behold, buttressed by a moving, wistful Dave Grusin score. Goldberg's control and strength, including an unwavering Jamaican accent, build cumulatively to deep emotional impact, while co-star Harris is a real find, making the most of Medoff's bon mots and never striking a false note. Together they provide an honest '80s version of the 3-hankie picture of yore, with some of the surefire dramatic appeal of classics like Carol Reed's "The Fallen Idol". In fact, though contemporary in setting and jargon, "Heart" plays like the films of 25 years ago and this return to traditional screen values could occasion sleeper success against the grain, a la "On Golden Pond". However, pic will need special handling to avoid the potential catcalls of those critics and audiences who currently view sentimentality with a jaded eye. Support roles are ably filled including the required callousness of Quinlan's and Ontkean's characters. Sole sore thumb here is Spalding Gray, whose guru might just as well be a real estate salesman, given the false reading. All tech credits are tops, with Francis and others likely to be singled out for recognition come awards time.

I only caught "the rest of the movie" But seeing W Goldberg I decided to watch it and loved it. Young white American boy find out his parents will not stay together and has to deal with it. House Keeper W G is supposed to be Jamaican and it seems has "raised" this child along his parents and somehow has become part of the family all hierarchy still in vigor but not really imposed as it seems this family has much relied on her. Young David is also faced with a mystery with his allied house keeper and his growing up is doubly challenged by his own situation but also with his parent's substitute unclear past. I do have a lot of time for W G and enjoyed her performance never giving into over emotional yet displaying a genuine caring attitude. Some may find the final finding a little over the top, but I know sometimes reality can be larger than fiction so personality I go with the flow. I wonder why there are so few reviews...to each its own

I a HUGE fan of Whoopie movies. I don't agree with a lot her politics etc. but the movies she does are always entertaining. I again just recently watched this movie after about 15 yrs and in this movie I found Neil Patrick Harris amazing and it being his first movie he was great! Especially hearing him do a perfect Jamaican accent.. Loved It!

Loved it when I first saw it and will always love it. It's one of those 80's movies that tears at your heart strings without being to sappy. It makes the viewer aware that this kind of things are happening in other households and that it's actually something that's real and not made up. If you watch it as a kid and then watch it as an adult you may learn more about it. This is one movie I want on DVD, because it shows that like others have mentioned, it's not a happy ever ending, but a realistic ending. David learns some valuable lessons as he is trying to deal with his guilt of his baby sister's death. Remember when he wanted to save a toy of hers and Clara tells him no. (I haven't watched it in a long time so I don't know exactly what she say, but it's something to think about.) I love this movie and always will. I think everyone should see this movie.

My review was written in September 1988 after a screening on Manhattan's UES. Buoyed by a beautifully measured star turn by Whoopi Goldberg and a smashing screen debut for young Neil Patrick Harris, "Clara's Heart" is a powerful, unabashedly sentimental drama that should win over class audiences everywhere. Adaptation by Mark Medoff of Joseph Olshan's novel pays attention to the values of a well-wrought character study of a noble Jamaican servant (Goldberg) and the young rich kid (Harris) she guides through adolescent rites of passage. Pic marks a strong return to the screen (after the 1982 flop "Kiss Me Goodbye") of director Robert Mulligan, projecting the qualities of his best work, including "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Summer of '42". Goldberg enters Harris' spoiled, uppercrust world in a family mansion outside Baltimore in a roundabout fashion: Harris' weepy mom (Kathleen Quinlan) is vacationing in Jamaica with hubby (Michael Ontkean), tormented by the death of her infant daughter, when the hotel maid Clara, played by Goldberg, brings her back to life with doses of folk wisdom. Young Harris has a conniption fit when his parents return home with the Jamaican nanny to lord over him and serve as Quinlan's live-in companion/housekeeper. Second-act plot twists involve the breakup of Quinlan's marriage, occasioned by Ontkean's philandering and her taking up with a self-help guru, Dr. Epstein (Spalding Gray). Broken-home theatrics drive the boy into Goldberg's arms, providing irresistible, folksy good humor as the precocious young thesp mimics her Jamaican accent and begins to fit in with Blanche (Hattie Winston) and Goldberg's other Jamaican friends living in Baltimore. Fly in the ointment comes with Goldberg's old-time foe from the Islands, Dora (Beverly Todd), who goads Harris to find out his nanny's deep, dark secret by rifling the red suitcase she keeps hidden under her bed. Third-act verbal revelation scene tastefully addresses such strong topics as rape and incest with care; less effective is film's climax in which the disillusioned boy hurls a racial slur at Goldberg when he feels abandoned by her. Harris plays the scene well and there can be no questioning of the filmmakers' motives, but it still hurts the mood of an otherwise tightly honed production. Reunion coda is a bit distended, but ends pic on an upbeat note of closure and inspiration. Captured in lush autumnal hues by ace British lenser Freddie Francis, "Clara's Heart" is a beauty to behold, buttressed by a moving, wistful Dave Grusin score. Goldberg's control and strength, including an unwavering Jamaican accent, build cumulatively to deep emotional impact, while co-star Harris is a real find, making the most of Medoff's bon mots and never striking a false note. Together they provide an honest '80s version of the 3-hankie picture of yore, with some of the surefire dramatic appeal of classics like Carol Reed's "The Fallen Idol". In fact, though contemporary in setting and jargon, "Heart" plays like the films of 25 years ago and this return to traditional screen values could occasion sleeper success against the grain, a la "On Golden Pond". However, pic will need special handling to avoid the potential catcalls of those critics and audiences who currently view sentimentality with a jaded eye. Support roles are ably filled including the required callousness of Quinlan's and Ontkean's characters. Sole sore thumb here is Spalding Gray, whose guru might just as well be a real estate salesman, given the false reading. All tech credits are tops, with Francis and others likely to be singled out for recognition come awards time.