A&E | screen FILM
The power of love
Carol beautifully explores a secret romance By Josh Bell
attraction between two women, and while it feaThe romance in Todd Haynes’ achingtures characters who judge and attack Carol and ly beautiful Carol is built out of small gesTherese, none of them are painted as cartoon viltures: a pair of gloves left on a counter, a hand lains. They are all people living their lives within on a shoulder, shoes hastily slipped back on. the confines of what they believe to be right. Elegant, composed housewife Carol Aird (Cate That includes Carol’s estranged husband Blanchett) and shy shopgirl/aspiring photogHarge (Kyle Chandler), who uses various underrapher Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara) have to handed tactics in what he believes is an effort hide their courtship in coded language, and thus to save his family (the couple has a every minute step they make toward young daughter together). But Carol each other carries almost unimagirefuses to back down even as she nable weight. They eventually face aaaac feels for a man who only wants the severe consequences for their love, CAROL Cate kind of happy marriage for which he but while they are constrained by Blanchett, Rooney genuinely thought he had signed up. the values of 1950s American society, Mara, Kyle Chandler. Blanchett’s Carol is both boldly selfthey are never defeated by them. Directed by Todd confident and deeply troubled, and Although it examines the ways that Haynes. Rated R. the actress pulls off the difficult feat the America of the past shamed and Opens Friday. of playing a character who is herself repressed gays and lesbians, Carol isn’t often putting on an act. a scolding or condescending look at Therese is much less demonstraoutdated morality. It helps that the tive, but Mara gives her a quiet strength that film is based on a novel actually published in the speaks to how much she must endure, even if same time period, The Price of Salt by Patricia it’s on a smaller scale than what Carol faces. Highsmith (who’s best known for suspense novHaynes brilliantly captures each of those small els like Strangers on a Train and The Talented Mr. moments of both grace and indignity, often with Ripley). As adapted by screenwriter Phyllis Nagy, a single, smart close-up that says everything the a longtime friend of Highsmith’s, Carol captures characters can’t. the excitement as much as the fear of forbidden
> just a touch Blanchett and Mara share an intimate moment.
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