Troian Bellisario - Clara {Clara} #1: "A distinctly human and emotional story of self-discovery and love." - Page 4

**BlondieLeigh** · 10-19-2018, 12:29 PM

We get to share some amazing news today...You've heard it here first. Our film CLARA will
officially be opening across Canada on Friday, November 30th! We filmed it up on Toronto
last year with the talented @akashsherman, @arilantos and the best crew in the business.
Having premiered at a few prestigious film festivals, it will now head to Cdn theatres this
November. Check out the new poster! #CLARAthefilm @dfilmscorp #SerendipityPnt
X

t2727 · 10-19-2018, 12:30 PM

Nice

**Firecrest** · 10-19-2018, 05:03 PM

Love the poster!

**BlondieLeigh** · 10-29-2018, 02:29 PM

**Firecrest** · 10-29-2018, 06:54 PM

Love the stunning pic!

**Summer Falls** · 11-10-2018, 05:35 AM

She does look good

**BlondieLeigh** · 11-27-2018, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Austin Film Fest Film Review: ‘Clara’ Wins Best Narrative

Clara, a sci-fi film, won the Jury Best Narrative Feature award at the Austin Film Festival. The festival, which ran October 25 – November 1, screened more than 180 films, and brought screenwriters and filmmakers together to celebrate the role of the screenplay in film and television.

Clara, written by Akash Sherman (The Rocket List) and James Ewasiuk, and directed by Sherman, introduces us to an obsessed astronomer and a curious artist. They form an unlikely bond which leads to an amazing discovery.

My initial reaction to the description of the film was, “Sounds like Big Bang Theory, without the laughs.” It even takes place in some of the same locations. Upon leaving the theater, however, my comparison had changed to “2001: A Space Odyssey for the new century.” The film is also a case study on how to tell back-story visually, without fake-sounding dialog. Clara should be required viewing at every film school.

Deep Thoughts

Patrick J. Adams (Suits) plays astronomer Dr. Isaac Bruno, who has become so obsessed and cynical with his research into the search for the existence of extra-terrestrial life, that he has let it ruin his marriage and professional life. His cynicism spills over into his teaching and gets him suspended from his professorship.

Then he meets Clara, played by Troian Bellisario (Pretty Little Liars), a world-wandering and somewhat world-weary artist. Bruno recruits Clara as a research assistant and they form an uneasy partnership. Clara is as spiritual as Bruno is skeptical. Their conversations regarding life and its meaning touch on universal themes that will touch anyone who sees the film.

The importance of making contact with alien life mirrors the importance of making contact with people right here on earth. The past that both characters have that makes this contact difficult is revealed by subtle, sometimes heart-rendering clues. Birth and death are elements of the story.

Light moments in the film are provided by Ennis Esmer (Blindspot) who plays Bruno’s co-worker and confidant, Dr. Charlie Durant. Esmer kept reminding me of the TV-pitch man who sells a product for patching leaks.

Deep Space

The film is science fiction, but the science part is so accurate and well researched by screenwriter Akash Sherman that it created enough buzz among astronomers to warrant an article in Scientific American (The Scientific American story contains some minor spoilers, so you might want to hold off on reading it until after you see the movie). The science, and a critical element in the plot, revolves around TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite). TESS takes pictures and sends back data which upon analysis can reveal the existence of planets around stars. Astronomers believe finding Earth-like planets is critical to finding other life in the universe.

Clara made me think about 2001:A Space Odyssey. This film does not have incredible special effects and span eons as Kubrick’s classic does. It does, however, deal with similar philosophical themes and music plays meaningful parts in both films. 2001 had Stausses (Richard and Johann) and “Daisy”. Clara has Vivaldi and Bob Dylan. In Clara music ties even more closely into the plot.

Clara will open in Canadian theaters on November 30. You can check for news on Clara (#CLARAthefilm) on the film’s Facebook page or Twitter feed and watch a trailer linked below.

X

t2727 · 11-28-2018, 12:01 PM

thanks

**BlondieLeigh** · 11-28-2018, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Clara is an 'excellent bit of science-inflected storytelling'

If you don’t come away with a new appreciation for orbital planet-hunting telescopes, you’re watching it wrong

Clara is that rare specimen of science-fiction in which the fiction doesn’t overwhelm the science. If you don’t come away with a new appreciation for orbital planet-hunting telescopes, you’re watching it wrong. Same goes if you aren’t caught up in its wounded central characters, a disillusioned astronomer and his wanderlusty assistant.

Patrick J. Adams stars as Isaac, a man with a tragic relationship backstory, and a new love named TESS. That’s the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, launched earlier this year and already adding to the tally of almost 4,000 known planets outside our system. When Isaac advertises for a lab assistant, the only applicant is Clara (Troian Bellisario), who has no skills but a keen mind and boundless curiosity.

With her talismanic collection of stones from every continent, Clara isn’t your typical would-be scientist. But her lack of knowledge allows writer/director Akash Sherman to educate us through her, as Isaac teaches her how the light from the stars can be analyzed to find planets, and maybe even life. Of course, along the way they start to develop feelings for one another.

Shot in Toronto, Clara makes the most of its shoestring budget, with Sherman helping out on visual effects to produce some eye-catching imagery. His image of an aircraft shadow is not only a beautiful alternative to the hackneyed plane-landing shot, but a clever callback to the technique for spotting planets. And I loved the blink-and-miss-it shot of a sign reading: “Toronto Planetarium Grand Re-opening.” Here’s hoping someone at Queen’s Park gets an idea from this.

In the end, Clara is both an excellent bit of science-inflected storytelling and a nicely crafted romantic drama. It’s said that humans are set apart from the rest of Earth’s species by scientific curiosity and the need to tell stories as a form of social bonding. This film recognizes and gives voice to both these impulses. It’s a superbly human film.

X

**Firecrest** · 11-28-2018, 04:23 PM

Yay!

**BlondieLeigh** · 12-01-2018, 02:06 PM

**Firecrest** · 12-01-2018, 04:53 PM

Love the video!

**BlondieLeigh** · 12-10-2018, 01:21 PM

X

t2727 · 12-10-2018, 01:24 PM

Thanks

**Firecrest** · 12-10-2018, 04:59 PM

Love the expressive gifs!


Fan Forum > Female Celebrities > Troian Bellisario > Clara {Clara} #1: "A distinctly human and emotional story of self-discovery and love."