Review: Carol

Hollywood has tackled same-sex relationships in a present-day sense, but finally we see a story hidden amongst our history. Based on Patricia Highsmith's novel, "The Price of Salt", director Todd Haynes brings us CAROL, the 1950s love story of two women hailing from completely different worlds.

Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara) is a 20-something aspiring photographer, stuck working at a department store with a boyfriend, Richard (Jake Lacy), who is much more interested in her than she is in him. Carol Aird (Cate Blanchett) is a well-off, older woman with a daughter and an ex-husband, Harge (Kyle Chandler), who wants her back. The two meet while Carol buys a train for her daughter, and leaves her gloves behind. Therese returns the gloves, and a relationship blossoms.

Therese, in her shy yet amiable way, finds that she has a crush on Carol right from the start. And as she gets to know her more and more, and sees Carol's struggles underneath the peeled back layers of glamour, it becomes harder and harder to tolerate Richard. When Carol approaches her with the idea of a road trip, she pounces on the opportunity, breaking free of Richard's ties and embracing her feelings for Carol. But Carol has her own ties from which to break free, and the story that follows shows the dangers of their relationship within the world that they are ensnared. It is a close look at love and jealousy and the desire for one's feelings to be accepted.

Mara and Blanchett blend together perfectly, and Chandler plays a fantastic villain to their kindling romance. Shot on 16mm to encapsulate the feel of the 1950s, CAROL will certainly transport you -- but it still maintains a connection to today's world: every character and emotion could be directly extracted from present day situations.

It is a refreshing film in the midst of the upcoming Oscar season. CAROL is now playing at the Midtown Cinema!