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Sci-fi film

Clara (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Clara (2019) movie poster

Clara is a 2019 sci-fi film directed by Akash Sherman, starring Troian Bellisario as Clara, Patrick J. Adams and Jennifer Dale. It runs 1 hour 45 minutes and earned $50,211 worldwide. Critics gave it 56% on Rotten Tomatoes and 43 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10.

IMDb rating
6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes
56%
worldwide gross
$50.2K
Echo Score
79
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Clara (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 45m (105 min)
Director
Akash Sherman
Genre
Sci-Fi
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Clara About?

The premise of Clara without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Astronomer Isaac Bruno is driven by a relentless search for extraterrestrial life, but his work is complicated by a personal tragedy. When he meets the mysterious artist Clara, they form an unexpected partnership, combining his scientific expertise with her unique perspective. Together, they delve into newly released stellar data, hoping to make revolutionary discoveries while Isaac confronts his past and rekindles his passion for the universe.

Clara Themes & Keywords

· 45 tags
  • female protagonist
  • 40 year old
  • mother daughter relationship
  • counting
  • female nudity
  • female frontal nudity
  • sexual awakening
  • clothed female naked female scene
  • title directed by female
  • horse
  • matriarch
  • religion
+33 more
  • reference to the virgin mary
  • doctor
  • scoliosis
  • earthquake
  • mud
  • white dress
  • blood
  • menstruation
  • sex scene
  • firefly
  • candle
  • holy water
  • river
  • bare chested male
  • underwater scene
  • healing
  • birthday
  • quinceanera
  • 15th birthday
  • birthday party
  • fire
  • shower
  • aunt niece relationship
  • isolated place
  • journey
  • village
  • female sexuality
  • costa rica
  • sexuality
  • magic realism
  • character name in title
  • f rated
  • triple f rated
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Cast & crew

Clara Cast & Characters

Troian Bellisario leads the cast as Clara, with Patrick J. Adams as Dr. Isaac Bruno and Jennifer Dale as Department Head. Directed by Akash Sherman; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Clara

· 6 more
Ratings

Clara Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Clara 56% on Rotten Tomatoes and 43 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 79/100, strongest in rewatch factor (85) and weakest in story & flow (70).

79 /100

Clara Echo Score Breakdown

Clara presents a balanced blend of visual polish and thoughtful performances, tempered by uneven narrative momentum. The film’s art direction and cinematography deliver a refined cosmic backdrop, while the leads offer nuanced emotional interplay that explores the tension between logic and intuition. The script’s premise is conceptually engaging but at times suffers from lapses in clarity and deliberate pacing. Sensory elements create an immersive atmosphere, and the thematic depth encourages repeat viewings. Overall, Clara achieves a moderately compelling experience with moments of genuine resonance and occasional narrative stasis.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 70

    In terms of art & craft, Clara delivers a refined visual aesthetic but its pacing and static compositions sometimes hinder momentum. The direction employs contemplative framing and restrained editing to underscore scientific themes, while the cinematography offers polished, wide-range shots of cosmic vistas. Production design convincingly evokes a small-scale observatory setting. Overall, the film’s art & craft present a polished look that at times feels visually restrained.

  • Character & Emotion 75

    When it comes to character & emotion, the two leads provide nuanced and heartfelt performances that anchor the film’s central relationship. Their chemistry conveys genuine intellectual curiosity and romantic tension, supported by measured dialogue and understated interactions. Some narrative choices introduce uneven sentimentality and occasionally undermine emotional momentum. Nevertheless, the primary character dynamics maintain a believable exploration of intuition versus logic, resulting in moderately resonant emotional depth.

  • Story & Flow 70

    In terms of story & flow, Clara offers an intriguing premise of scientific discovery interwoven with a romantic arc. The screenplay’s focus on the conflict between logic and feeling provides conceptual interest, but plot progression suffers from occasional lapses in clarity and predictable turns. The pacing is deliberate but can feel static, and certain sequences lack engaging conflict. Overall, the story balances inventive ideas with uneven momentum, yielding moderate engagement throughout.

  • Sensory Experience 80

    When it comes to sensory experience, Clara presents an elegant visual style marked by polished cinematography and a subtle, atmospheric score. Ambient sound design reinforces the sense of isolation and cosmic wonder, while production elements ground the science fiction in a tangible environment. The soundtrack’s restrained instrumentation complements the reflective tone without overwhelming key scenes. Overall, the sensory aspects create an immersive yet meditative atmosphere that strongly supports the narrative themes.

  • Rewatch Factor 85

    In terms of rewatch factor, Clara’s thoughtful exploration of philosophical questions and the chemistry between the leads encourage repeated viewings. Audiences can uncover additional thematic nuances on subsequent watches, particularly in scenes juxtaposing data-driven inquiry with intuitive insights. Although some pacing choices feel slow, the blend of intellectual intrigue and subtle emotional beats rewards further engagement. Overall, the film offers lasting appeal for viewers drawn to contemplative science fiction storytelling.

Plot

Clara Plot Summary

What happens in Clara from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Dr. Isaac Bruno, Patrick J. Adams, holds a postdoctoral fellowship in astrophysics at a fictional Ontario university in Toronto, where his quest to detect signs of intelligent life has become an all-consuming mission grounded in a private trauma from two years past. This fixation has left him increasingly hostile toward students and colleagues, and it culminates in him misappropriating time on ground-based telescopes in Chile that were meant for a peer’s research. The department head, Jennifer Dale, ultimately suspends him, cutting him off from the school’s facilities and forcing him to confront the consequences of his unyielding approach.

Full summary

The whole story of Clara, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Clara Box Office

Clara grossed $50,211 worldwide.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$50.2K

International
$50.2K
Videos

Clara Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Clara.

Official Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Clara?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is Dr. Isaac Bruno's field of study?

Cars

Cars in Clara

5 cars on screen, including the 2004 Toyota Highlander and the BMW 3 Cabrio E30.

All 5 cars
  • 2004 Toyota Highlander in Clara 2004 Toyota Highlander Important role
  • BMW 3 Cabrio E30 in Clara BMW 3 Cabrio E30 Minor role
  • 2015 Cadillac Escalade in Clara 2015 Cadillac Escalade Minor role
  • 2016 Dodge Dart in Clara 2016 Dodge Dart Background role
Details

Clara Also Known As

9 alternative titles, including “A Billion Stars: Im Universum ist man nicht allein” and “Клара”.

Also known as
  • A Billion Stars: Im Universum ist man nicht allein
  • Клара
  • Clara: Um Amor Além do Universo
  • 克莱拉
  • 클라라
  • A Billion Stars - Im Universum ist man nicht allein
  • 克萊拉
  • קלרה
  • คลาร่า ค้นดาว พบเธอ

Seen Clara?

FAQ

Clara FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Clara, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Clara?

Clara runs 1 hour 45 minutes (105 minutes).

When was Clara released?

Clara was released on May 3, 2019.

Who directed Clara?

Clara was directed by Akash Sherman.

Who is in the cast of Clara?

Clara stars Troian Bellisario as Clara, Patrick J. Adams as Dr. Isaac Bruno and Jennifer Dale as Department Head, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Clara make at the box office?

Clara grossed $50,211 worldwide.

How is Clara rated?

Clara has 6.7/10 on IMDb, 56% on Rotten Tomatoes, 43 on Metacritic and 75% on TMDB.

Does Clara have a post-credit scene?

No. Clara has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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