Todd Haynes's romantic-drama movie is a controversial masterpiece not for the sensitivity of its premise but to its absence at the 88th Academy Awards' Best Picture category. Nevertheless, this adaptation of the 1952 novel “The Price of Salt” (which later republished as “Carol”) written by Patricia Highsmith earned the affection of many critics and award-giving bodies alike.
“Carol” is about the character of Cate Blanchett, Carol Aird, who befriended the timid store clerk, Therese Belivet played by Rooney Mara. The story follows their friendship as it blossoms into a romantic relationship that would affect everyone that surrounds them.
“Carol” is a slow and meditative work of art by Todd Haynes. His careful and intimate use of the camera elicits strong emotions of longing and pain. The characters' wordless glances and nuances depict the unmeasurable desire between the two and their urge to break free from the norms set upon them. These ideas and emotions are supported by Haynes's clever use of doors, windows, rooms, and mirrors to show constraint and enclosure.
It is said that in movies, it’s better to show rather than to tell. “Carol” is that. The narrative is dependent on how Blanchett and Mara carry their character. Blanchett’s sultry voice compliments her character as a wise mother. Careful and always calculating her next move. But Blanchett shows more about Carol. Through her performance, we get to see her sorrow behind her elegance and flair. Mara, on the other hand, is at first timid and indecisive. She would often say that she doesn't know what she wants, but would later show convictions of her decisions in life. Eventually carving her destiny and write her own story.
To be frank, there is nothing fancy about “Carol” and it is not as technically brilliant compare to other movies. What makes it work, though, is its persistence to connect to the viewers. We might be voyeurs, looking at the life of two people determined to be together, but Haynes's film invites us to sympathize with its character and story. Making us feel that we are part of the narrative.
“Carol” really makes you feel like you’ve “flung out of space.” I’ve only watched this movie once but as I’m writing about it the more that it compels me to watch it again. It’s a must-see. A rare and magnetic piece of cinema, indeed.
5/5
