Le secret de Clara

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.

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.

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.