CLARA'S HEART
US, 1988, 108 minutes, Colour.
Whoopi Goldberg, Michael Ontkean, Neil Patrick Harris, Kathleen Quinlan, Spalding Gray,
Directed by Robert Mulligan.
Clara's Heart, even from its title, is an emotional film. Whoopi Goldberg, in her serious (Color Purple) vein, is a Jamaican maid who returns to Baltimore to help in the household of an affluent couple. The couple are played by Kathleen Quinlan and Michael Ontkean. Spalding Gray is a psychologist who befriends the wife. However, the focus is on the relationship between Clara and the young son of the family, played with effect by Neil Patrick Harris (at first obnoxiously, then uncertain, then growing in friendship). It is a picture of a marriage breaking up, of a wise mother figure who is able to act as friend and guide to a young adolescent. It is the story of an adolescent who doesn't want his parents to break up, finds himself caught in the middle, finds a new friend whom he previously despised and begins to trust. There is a subplot amongst blacks in Baltimore, especially focusing on the fate of Clara's son. Eventually she reveals her secrets in trust to the young boy.
The film was directed by veteran Robert Mulligan, who made few films during the '80s. However, many of his films in the '50s and '60s were very striking, including Love With the Proper Stranger, Up the Down Staircase, The Stalking Moon. Music is by Dave Grusin (On Golden Pond).
1.A pleasingly emotional film? Human drama? Problem drama?
2.The Jamaican sequences, the world of Baltimore, affluent, black sections of the city? Musical score, piano accompaniment, songs?
3.The situation: the death of the child, the funeral? The relationship between Bill and Leona? With David? The holiday and David being left at home? Isolated? The return, the tension between husband and wife, Leona and the help of Peter Epstein, Bill and his trips, girlfriends, family tension, husband and wife not being friends, the decision for divorce?
4.The focus on David, his age, relationship with his parents, overhearing the truth, resenting the death of the baby Edith, his father's expectations, especially about swimming? His being despised at school?
5.Whoopi Goldberg as Clara: in Jamaica, as the maid, definite with Leona, the gift, the waking up of Leona and alerting her to life? Meeting Bill, the return? Their reaction, David and his nastiness with Clara's calm? Finding her place in the household?
6.David and Clara, their clash, her room, the meals, treating him as a child and his acting as a child? Her wise interventions with the parents? The gradual bond with David? His swimming, defeat? Talking to her, alone with her? Blanche and the visit, being Clara's boy, the hairdressers, his changed hair, meeting the women, becoming more at home with Clara's friends? Dora and the puzzle about Clara's son?
7.The portrait of Clara: in herself, in Baltimore, her husband and the returned letters, her suitcase, Dora and the story of her son? Her strong stances, always being right? The parents separating, her stances with them? Her care for David, his confiding in her, the talk, going to church, his going to communion? His asking about her son, yet going from church to read her letters? Her anger? Her forgiving him, her strength as regards the decisions for the psychiatrist, the going to California? Making the choices clear to him, helping him? Not betraying him? Telling the story of her son? His anger at her not going with him?
8.David and the love between them, the gradual change, his curiosity, reading the letters, hurting her? The separation? Going to the therapy, making up the stories with Clara? His options, hearing her story? The swim and his success? His anger and bitterness in speech at thinking Clara had betrayed him?
9.Leona, her depression after the baby's death, wanting the baby to heal the marriage, at home, the therapy sessions, Peter and the friendship, falling in love? The discussion about David going to therapy, Peter's advice? The psychiatrist and his listening to the problems, picking that they were made up? Talking with Leona? The decision to go to San Francisco, confrontation with Bill? Wanting her own happiness, going to San Francisco - and the irony of David going with them and it turning out well?
10.Bill, the break-up of the marriage, leaving, his girlfriend - and David's direct questioning of her? The outings, the discussion about the therapy, his expectations for David's athletic skill, seeing him win?
11.Peter and his style, therapist, sessions? A stepfather?
12.David's return, going to see Clara at work? The talk, his apology, the reconciliation, Clara's strong explanation of friendship and the heart? His future?
13.An American story, marriage, commitment, collapse of commitment, love, family, parents' responsibility to children? Humane themes? The important race themes (and the strong characterisation of Blanche, Dora and Clara's friends, the area of Baltimore, David feeling at home in this atmosphere - especially at the dance)? A humane story?
