Carol (2015) (Movie Review)

Dir: Todd Haynes
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara
Dur: 1 hr 55 mins
Genre: Romance
Rating: 2/5
PG: A love-making scene.

“Love”, they say “comes in different shapes and sizes” and I may add, even in different types. Gay love isn’t looked upon anymore as something rare and forbidden. Although in the time of the film, i.e. the 1950’s, it was taboo. The LGBT movement is gaining momentum and every now and then they stage a massive rally and hog a lot of media publicity. Carol is a story about lesbian love between a married woman (Cate Blanchett) with a history of lesbian activity and a young maiden of marriageable age (Rooney Mara).

The film is romantic but only melancholically so. Love is not fulfilled here. It’s frustrated and love that is frustrated can never be upbuilding and enriching. That’s the case here. We have two people in love but such is their situation that their love helps neither of them. In fact it only worsens their situations. Carol (Blanchett) is on the verge of a divorce while Therese (Mara) is a young confused girl. Come to think of it, the film is itself confused. It’s neither a full-fledged lesbian romance nor a straight romance. It’s caught up in a vicious circle of its own making.


The idea of the film was what attracted me to it. However, it’s not worth the watch. Fans of these two actresses might find the film amusing. The rest of us would do well to spend our time on something of our liking.  

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