Clara (2018 film)
A science fiction drama about space, love, and loss.
Clara is a 2018 Canadian science fiction film. It marks the second feature from director Akash Sherman. The lead roles are played by real-life married couple Patrick J. Adams and Troian Bellisario. Adams portrays Isaac, an astrophysicist, while Bellisario plays Clara, a wandering artist. The two grow close as they hunt for evidence of intelligent extraterrestrial life. Critical reception was mixed.
The story follows Dr. Isaac Bruno, a postdoctoral researcher in astrophysics at a fictional Ontario University in Toronto. His quest to detect alien life has become all-consuming, tied to a personal trauma from two years prior. His behavior has grown hostile toward his students, and he has been secretly using telescope time in Chile that was reserved for a colleague. The department head suspends him and cuts off access to university research facilities.
After the launch of the TESS orbiting telescope, vast amounts of data become publicly available for analysis. Isaac posts flyers seeking an unpaid research assistant, offering only room and board. The sole respondent is Clara, an uneducated artist with a bohemian past. She has her own secrets, taking medication for an unspecified illness.
Isaac focuses on M dwarf stars, betting that other researchers will overlook them. When Clara identifies a promising exoplanet, Isaac sneaks into the university at night and lies to telescope operators in Chile, claiming he has permission from his friend Charlie to gather more data. Charlie is angry but intrigued by the results. He suggests Isaac contact his ex-wife, Rebecca, who holds an endowed chair at Caltech. Clara persuades Isaac to reach out despite his reluctance. Rebecca eventually reveals the source of Isaac's trauma: their baby son died two years earlier, and she tells him that finding life will not bring the child back. She secures time on the Keck telescope, and the data confirms they have found a habitable planet candidate.
Clara falls in love with Isaac, but he has grown cynical about anything that cannot be scientifically proven. She kisses him, then pulls back when he begins to respond. After Charlie's wife gives birth, Isaac laments that the universe is a "cosmic accident" based on luck, where tiny variations can alter the existence of an atom, a planet, or his son.
- Release year
- 2018
- Country
- Canada
- Director
- Akash Sherman
- Genre
- Science fiction drama
- Lead actors
- Patrick J. Adams, Troian Bellisario
- Themes
- Existence, human purpose, connection, bereavement
Lore & Background
The plot follows Dr. Isaac Bruno, a postdoctoral research fellow in astrophysics at Ontario University in Toronto, whose obsession with finding intelligent alien life is linked to an unspecified trauma two years earlier. After being suspended for misusing telescope time, he posts flyers for an unpaid research assistant and is answered by Clara, an uneducated artist with a Bohemian lifestyle who secretly suffers from an autoimmune disease. Together they discover a habitable exoplanet candidate, but Isaac's grief over the death of his infant son strains their relationship until Clara helps him reconnect with the universe on an emotional level. Clara's health deteriorates, and she dies in the hospital, but her influence leads Isaac to later find proof of an artificial object orbiting a star 200 light years away.
Reader's Guide
Clara explores 'life's big questions'—the nature of existence, human purpose, and the need to connect with others—by blending scientific search for extraterrestrial life with personal bereavement. Director Akash Sherman, who wrote the script after experiencing a personal loss, approaches the idea of life beyond Earth from both a scientific perspective and a place of spirituality. The film's mixed critical reception reflects its ambitious fusion of hard science fiction and emotional drama, with some reviewers noting it functions as a romance despite Sherman's objections. The film is notable for featuring real-life married couple Patrick J. Adams and Troian Bellisario, who contributed to character development and suggested the ending. Clara stands as a meditation on how grief can isolate a person and how human connection—even fleeting—can restore meaning.
Did You Know?
- The film's title 'Clara' means 'clear' and 'bright,' like a star.
- Troian Bellisario suggested the film's ending, which director Akash Sherman accepted as better than his original.
- The character Isaac's ex-wife reveals that their baby son died, which is the trauma driving his obsession.
- The aliens send a message in Morse code reading 'Isaac Bruno' and a Bob Dylan song that Isaac and Clara listened to together.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Clara (2018 film)?
Clara is a 2018 Canadian science fiction drama that serves as director Akash Sherman's second feature-length project. It centers on a postdoctoral astrophysicist in Toronto whose obsessive search for alien life intersects with the path of a free-spirited artist.
Who stars in Clara (2018)?
Patrick J. Adams takes on the role of Isaac, a driven astrophysicist, while Troian Bellisario portrays Clara, a wandering artist. The two performers are a married couple in real life, adding a layer of chemistry to their on-screen partnership.
What is the plot of Clara (2018)?
The film tracks Dr. Isaac Bruno, a researcher at a fictional Toronto university, as his all-consuming quest to find proof of intelligent extraterrestrial life pulls him into an unlikely bond with Clara, a nomadic artist. Together they pursue evidence of alien contact while navigating deeper questions about purpose and connection.
What themes does Clara (2018) explore?
The story weaves together ideas of human existence, the search for meaning, interpersonal connection, and grief. At its core, it is framed as a meditation on space, love, and loss.
How was Clara (2018) received by critics?
Reviews for the film were generally mixed, with audiences and critics offering divided opinions on its execution. Despite the lukewarm critical response, it remains a notable entry in Canadian indie science fiction.
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