A feature dedicated to the collective's simultaneous love for both Carol Aird and Therese Belivet.
Based on Patricia Highsmith's 1952 novel 'The Price of Salt', 'Carol' sets the scene of divorced Carol Aird's (Cate Blanchett) intoxicating fall in love with Rooney Mara's shop assistant, Therese Belivet.
The musky scent of perfume, hand written love letters combined with personally-captured film photographs all hold the essence of Todd Haynes's 1950s romance-drama. A heady, hypnotising forbidden love story of two women of different whirlwinds. From respite found in cigarette clouds to lipstick-stained martini glasses, we are instantly transported to a somewhat glamorous period of longing and impermissibility. So painful, yet narcotic, the landscape of this film is sickeningly addictive. We are instantly reminiscent of an era we will never experience, yet Haynes leads us so far through the winter-kissed streets of Manhattan that we feel we are sat legitimately in secrecy, gaining insight into Carol and Therese's relationship.
Whether it is the imagined feeling of Carol's fur coat on our cheeks or the humbleness of Therese and her striped beret, the two protagonists feel like a safe space as we intertwine ourselves in the intimacy and privacy of their journey. We witness true love behind closed motel room doors and dusky lighting and curtains. Although we feel a part of this quite innermost romance, there is a sense of anguish and caution throughout the love story due to the underlying homophobia present in society. To the eyes of viewers in the present day, their romance is fulfilling and valid, however the film tackles discomfort and prejudice against lesbian relationships in the 20th century on numerous occasions.
Cate Blanchett's performance of Carol Aird is simply divine. She is grande, charming and classy at front and, but also is in deep torment and portrays motherhood in no truer form. Her mother-daughter relationship is simply unfeigned. Carol is the idyllic figure of sophistication amongst the middle class, yet is in turmoil due to her tainted familial relationships. She has a delicious presence which can be felt even from afar, whilst she is also somewhat self-deprecating in her attempts to protect the ones she loves.
Therese Belivet, a doe-eyed aspiring photographer, is played magnificently by Rooney Mara. Therese appears innocent, inspired and intuitive; her giving nature to Carol is simply melting. Although the pair appear as quite the oxymoron, with Carol's red and doubtless presence and Therese's somewhat delicate youthful energy, yet their chemistry is incomparable to those of romantic dramas we have seen before. They combine the periodic extravagance of the likes of Atonement and Jane Eyre with a pure and grounding connection, which feels relatable but also holds the aura of something far away and desirable.
Despite the idealised historical setting of 'Carol', the film is gritty and exposes the postcard-worthy scenery of 1950s New York. Touching on the extreme prejudice pillaring society, 'Carol' brings light to homophobia and the patriarchy. 'The Price of Salt' by Patricia Highsmith - the base novel of the film - was first published under the psuedonym Claire Morgan due to the sensitivity of the story at the time. However the stereotypical male characters of the tale further present this. They are blunt in presenting society's discomfort with lesbian relationships. Therese's blossoming feelings for Carol are regularly belittled into labels of a 'stupid crush' throughout the film, whilst Carol's sexuality is a subject forbidden from discussion. Meanwhile, as females they are often unheard with the perpetual desires of men and marriage around them. Although heartbreaking, the contrast of this with the couple's relationship alongside their friendship with Abby Gerhard (Sarah Paulson) expresses the resilient unity of the female characters in the film. It is beautifully familiar and is enough to pose musings of our own impenetrable friendships on any of us.
With its addressing of political prejudice, it is most important to remember 'Carol' as an undoubtable love story; a hypnotising, mystical love story. Carol, Therese and Abby are like a handhold from old friend, whilst the chemistry of Aird and Belivet is invigorating and rare.
And so, to anybody reading this post, this is your sign from the universe to head over to Prime now to watch 'Carol' so you can join us in our simultaneous adoration of Carol Aird and Therese Belivet.
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