[Spoilers] Carol (2015) — Film of the Week

submitted by piylot from self.Lesbians

Hi! This week's film was Carol. Discuss below, what you liked, what you didn't, your favourite scenes/characters/lines.

I'll put up a thread for film suggestions for the rest of September on Tuesday

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[–]Innisfree 11 insightful - 1 fun11 insightful - 0 fun12 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

Yearning is perhaps the defining triumph of both the film and the novel. I think Rooney Mara doesn't get enough praise for how well she conveyed the introvert engulfed by this private passion for a glamorous woman. Therese's eyes and silence speak volumes, at times you almost feel how full she is with yearning and later, with desire for Carol. It's no accident they used the photographer trope (hello High Art, Disobedience), not only is it a good opportunity for Therese to observe Carol, but it lets the audience see Therese's infatuation develop.

A standout is the Saul Leiter inspired cinematography. The shots through rain-stained windows together with the colour scheme really bring the early 50s to life.

And the music! If you want a slice of the 50-60s Americana, with the "cloistered housewife longing for another life" feeling, Carter Burwell is your man. He does yearning exquisitely.

[–][deleted] 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

Yes! I wholeheartedly agree that the introverted theme of yearning was expressed so eloquently here in this movie, and is the reason why it’s one of my favorites. In particular, there were a few really good articles that came out after it hit theaters about the female gaze and how it was executed in the film.

[–]Innisfree 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Todd Haynes was sure very thoughtful about the eyeline :)

About yearning, I think my favorite scene from the film is the drive through the tunnel. It epitomises falling in love: the heedy drunkenness of it, the hormones setting your senses abuzz. There are moments when Therese steals glances at Carol almost as if looking at her full-on would be too much. And indeed, soon she looks away and let's the music and the sheer improbability of being with this gorgeous woman wash over her.

It's what being out-of-your-wits in love is like :)

[–][deleted] 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Omg that scene. It’s my second favorite after the sex scene of course....the whole wooing of the scene just does it in for me every time

[–]Ricky_Ticky 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

That is so true! Cate Blanchett is a fantastic actress but Rooney Mara's performance was beyond words. I was looking forward to enjoy Cate's acting but I could not get my eyes off Rooney's face. She portrayed such a broad spectrum of emotions so well, that's a real talent

[–]Innisfree 7 insightful - 4 fun7 insightful - 3 fun8 insightful - 4 fun -  (0 children)

One hilarious thing to come out of the Carol phenomenon and a cultural milestone in its own right, is Kate McKinnon's parody of the glove lunch scene.

It wouldn't be a bad day to have Wanda Sykes and Jane Lynch asking you to join them for lunch :).

[–]piylot[S] 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (11 children)

Ladies I could not get behind this one. I found the age gap off putting, didn't get any sense they were good for each other, and so wasn't routing for them as a couple. Wasn't much else to the plot than the relationship so a bit of a miss for me. Wasn't that focused watching it though.

[–]piylot[S] 9 insightful - 2 fun9 insightful - 1 fun10 insightful - 2 fun -  (9 children)

The age gap was made worse by the fact the scene where the women first meet – Carol asks Therese what toy a 4 year old would like as if she should be much more easily able to relate. In the first sex scene when Carol sees Therese naked the first thing she says is "I never looked like that" which I found bizarre. Like she was a witch trying to steal her youth or something rather than a woman attracted to another woman lol. And again, wasn't watching that closely but never got any sense they were looking out for each other, acting in each other's best interests, seemed to be mostly focused just purely on that they were attracted to each other, which isn't enough to have me routing for a relationship.

[–]Innisfree 8 insightful - 1 fun8 insightful - 0 fun9 insightful - 1 fun -  (5 children)

I remember the "I never looked like that" moment. I was thinking what lesbian would say that? It was definitley where the love scene went downhill.

As to the age gap, I think the film made an effort to soften some of Patricia Higsmith's predilections, that come across a bit more pointedly in the book. Whether that effort was successful is for the viewer to decide. For those who want to explore more why the film didn't quite sit well with them, this piece on the history of the book is a brill summary.

[–][deleted] 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

This is hilarious! I read the article and laughed out loud when they got to: “ At twenty, Highsmith wrote in her diary, ‘Could I possibly be in love with my own mother? Perhaps in some incredible way I am.’”

Of course you are, sweetie. Lol. This is exactly what creeps me out about women who add these dynamics into their stories. Mommy issues is NOT sexy. Imagine being a mommy figure for someone and not having their attraction even be about you? How lonely.

[–]Innisfree 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Yeah, and she ended up lonely herself, as one would expect. Cautionary tale, if there ever was one.

[–]piylot[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

That description of the milk...

[–]Innisfree 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Oh my, how on point was your reading of Carol seeming like a witch after Therese's youth and beauty. I forgot about the details in the article. But your astute observations, also of the talk at the toy desk, are very revealing of Highsmith's preoccupation with mommy issues (pardon the crass phrasing, but I don't know how to skirt around this one and I hope it doesn't spoil the enjoyment of the film for others).

[–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I love that description, even though it’s creepy.

[–]RedditHatesLesbians 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

This exactiy! I really didn't think their dynamic had much going for it. I think instead of it showing a true connection and relationship between women it's more focused on showing an obsessive crush, which I found sort of disappointing. Like can't a lesbian be in a healthy, deep relationship for once instead of it being so superficial?

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Apparently not, and it’s so depressing to keep seeing this dynamic repeating, even if its not an age thing. I don’t know about most other lesbians, but I have had some really great relationships with lovely women, and only 2 terrible dynamics. We have wholesome and loving connections. Lol. It happens. I guess it’s just not interesting enough in stories. But when there are so few representations of us it sort of matters more

[–]begonia_skies 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

I think Carol asked her what dolls she liked when she was younger, and she was working in the toy department so I don't think it would be odd to ask those questions. 100% agree the "I never looked like that" was such a weird and strange dialogue choice, I guess they were trying for a more proper way to say "your body is banging" but definitely weird.

[–]33799 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I've never watched the movie, only read the book (and it was a few years ago), always wondered if the movie was any better or very different since a lot of people seem to love it, but this seems similar to my feelings.

[–]begonia_skies 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I like Carol but I don't love it. It is visually a beautiful film and creates an atmosphere that really does a great job of replicating the 1950s. I actually don't even mind the age gap, Rooney and I are about the same age and I would definitely go for Cate, so I'm not upset about that. It just feels distant and a bit hollow. I don't mind it's a slow burn, I actually greatly prefer that. Further, I understand that women in the 1950s probably were very "glove lunch" about flirtatious advances; however, I didn't feel pulled into the characters and in some ways I didn't see or feel the emotional depth the film attempted to present. The restrained dialogue pushed the emotional growth to be told via longing looks and beautiful shots. This may serve well for award season but makes it more difficult to connect to the characters (in my opinion).

[–][deleted] 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I thought I would hate this movie given that it falls into the “sad lesbian dealing with societal homophobia” category, but it was beautifully done. Cate Blanchett is amazing.