Patricia Highsmith is the s***
You know her as the author of The Talented Mr Ripley (if you haven’t ever read the book it’s better than the also-excellent film), The Price of Salt (the book that Carol's adapted from) and Strangers On A Train (once turned into a Hitchcock movie, now being rebooted under the watchful eye of *Gone Girl’*s Gillian Flynn).
But the no-nonsense author was also a comic book writer, an outspoken critic of many things and, by all accounts, a fascinating eccentric of the highest order. Apparently, she rocked up at a party once with a bag full of snails which she chose as company over the other partygoers.
She had relationships with men and women of all sexualities during a time when, as Carol shows, many in society didn’t consider it ‘proper’.
It’s not a sensational story
Carol and Therese’s relationship is a big deal to their friends and to their family, but the film is less about sensationalising the unforgivable offense society took to homosexuality and serves more as a tiny snapshot of the breakdown of a relationship and its effects on several very ordinary people. The story seems real, the characters believable and, as a result, the societal difficulties that Carol and and Therese face hit harder.
The costumes
I mean, it’s trite to go, ‘Oooh a period piece, look at the lovely costumes’, but really – look at the lovely costumes. Cate Blanchett in this film is what you’ll find if you get a dictionary printed next year and look up the definition of ‘elegant’. Of course, that’s largely down to her most excellent acting, but we’re going to attribute at least part of it to the excellent work of costume designer Sandy Powell.
Just a quick refresher on Sandy for your ‘friend’ who always forgets these things – she’s the one who has won two Academy Awards (for Shakespeare In Love and The Young Victoria), has costumed six Martin Scorsese films and was responsible for that Lily James Cinderella dress last year that spawned a thousand wedding dresses.
The cape coats and slim-fitting pencil skirts in Carol, though, are literally some of the classiest clothes you’ll see in film all year.
Female friendship rules all
We’re lucky that we live in a relatively liberal time. Women today in Western countries enjoy freedoms that even our recent ancestors wouldn’t have been able to dream of. Through it all, women have learned to cope with the lot they’ve been given, and the relationship Carol shares with best friend and fellow lesbian Abby is a worthy reminder of that.
Rarely judgemental, steadfastly loyal, this is that rare depiction of female friendship on film that rings true and gives us hope.
Rooney Mara
Sure Rooney Mara’s been around for a number of years and her previous work has been much-lauded (deservedly so, obvs) but imagine, if you will being 29 years old and being cast next to Cate Blanchett. Cate bloody Blanchett, one of the world’s greatest actresses. Terrifying much?
But you wouldn’t know it from Rooney’s performance. Coquetteish and naive when she’s with Cate, Rooney’s character is cocksure with her contemporaries.
Carol is released in cinemas on November 27.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.