The background of "Carol" is the United States in the middle of the last century. The social atmosphere is conservative. In addition, it is the forbidden love of two women. Their emotional development is very restrained. It's bound to be a little cold. But as Cate said in an interview before, she has read a lot of books and movies about the same sex in order to play this role well. Of course, this list must include "Blue is the warmest color", which was also famous in Cannes. ", Cate said "Blue" is not what they want to achieve. So in this movie less eroticism, but with the electric-stunned look in Therese's eyes the first time she met Carol; Carol looked back only to say "I like your hat" to Therese (actually a shabby regular Santa hat); Therese sitting in the co-pilot turned a deaf ear to all Carol's problems because Therese was too happy and just wanted to flug out of space, she was afraid it was all just a dream; When Carol said she would be away for a while, Therese The last bit of strength in her body was drained. She was surprised and angry, completely forgetting that they had only met a few days ago, and asked Carol blankly "When and where are you going?"; and when Carol suddenly asked Therese if she would Therese was like a soul just rescued from hell when she was on the road with herself, and the joy came so suddenly, "yes, of course I will", leaving everything just to be with you, and therese was so desperate to control herself The corners of her mouth were turned up, but it was difficult to find out; also, Carol saw Therese passing by in the taxi, and for a moment, the feelings she had suppressed for more than a month erupted like a volcano, and at that moment she knew that she could no longer hold on. Going down, Carol smiled slightly when the camera zoomed out, she had made a decision that was true to her heart... Many such small details express their position in each other's hearts. The director of some shots is so understated that it takes several times to see his intentions. Some people say that Therese in the movie is very passive compared to the novel. Coupled with Carol's strong aura, sometimes Therese feels like a sheep that has been eaten. In fact, I think it's just a difference in the performance of the two people due to their different age, status and experience. Therese is an ignorant little girl who has just entered the society and doesn't even understand what she wants. And Carol is a young woman in the upper class. She doesn't have to do things she doesn't like to support herself. She has experienced an unfortunate marriage and has also been involved in same-sex relationships, so she can deal with most things. No matter how big the waves are, she will have an expression that matches her identity on her face. This leads to the fact that therese looks like Therese is staring at Carol every time throughout the movie, and Carol is mostly casual and slightly teasing.
The first encounter between two people is a typical love at first sight. Young Therese is strongly attracted to Carol with a red cap. Therese thought to herself who could not love Carol, she was beautiful, graceful, mysterious, strong, but sometimes vulnerable and distressing. Therese wanted to know everything about her, but Therese had to ask her about Carol's name. When Therese was looking forward to spending the day with Carol at her villa, she found herself in tears on the train back to New York. On the one hand, her love for Carol made her look very embarrassed when facing Carol's husband, like a third party intruding into someone else's life. On the other hand, she found that Carol was unhappy, but what was worse was that she was not only not in Carol's life, but also unable to help her. Therese has a strong love for Carol, but the love is very weak. It is also reflected in the next day when Carol comes to Therese's apartment and talks about being forbidden to see her daughter. Therese says feeling useless and not helpful at all, and Carol says it's none of your business. Carol was telling the truth, but it hit Therese where it hurt the most. Therese immediately lowered her eyes and leaned against the wall weakly.
The road trip of the two people is the highlight of this film. It witnesses the process of the two people from occasional physical contact and ambiguous eyes to a full-blown emotional explosion. Therese was laughing all the way, like the first time she was in Carol's car, exactly like a little girl in love, until she found the revolver in Carol's case. The thorn in the rooftop conversation a few days ago reappeared, only this time she didn't even know why. So Therese said to Carol again "Please tell me what's scaring you, maybe I can help", but with hesitation in her voice because she doubted she could do it.
Therese's apprehension and trepidation peaked in the small town of Waterloo, and then disappeared. They didn't think that what was waiting for Carol after such a wonderful night was enough to destroy her, and when Carol said "son of bitch" and pointed a gun to a man's head, Therese's question was answered, and All the happiness is also instantly broken down. When Carol was overwhelmed, her first thought was to ask her friend Abby for help, and what Therese could do was lay a few more layers of cardboard on the lost gun, and then stood there watching Carol tell Abby, Ask Abby for help. What makes Therese even more disturbing is that this ghostly Abby is the window paper she has been reluctant to pierce. She can vaguely feel what happened between her and Carol. Therese wants to know the truth but is very afraid of knowing the truth. . If Therese had had a glimmer of hope for a chance to help Carol out of her troubles, this little expectation was annihilated at this moment, and even a little ridiculous, because she was also an "accomplice", she accepted the help of a private detective and Give him a chance to eavesdrop on their conversations, that crucial tape recording wouldn't exist at all without her participation. So after checking into the hotel, Therese silently walked to another empty bed, not because she didn't want to sleep with Carol. Carol is the person she wants to touch the most in the world, she wants to be with her all the time, she wants to die with her. But to punish herself, Therese had to trap herself in another bed.
Towards the end, Carol took the initiative to talk about her current situation. The villa was sold, the child returned to her ex-husband, she bought an apartment, and found a job. When Carol said she wanted Therese to move in together, Carol finally opened up to Therese Open the door and ask her to become a part of her life. Everything Therese had longed for would come true, except that the scar was too deep, and she felt the same happiness about the sudden descent as she felt in Carol's car for the first time, dizzy and ringing in her ears, and she hadn't recovered. I believe that even without the "i love you" or even "live with me" invitation, the ending will not change. Because Therese feels endlessly lonely at a party full of people, and with Carol she has the world. Because Therese finally realizes that Carol has given up on the person she once held dear, just to be with her in this life. Carol would be in pain without her daughter, but without Therese, Carol would not even feel the pain.
PS: When the female lead of Cannes came out this year, I was still wondering how someone could play against the big devil, and ended up PKing Cate down, and that person was not Judi Dench or Aunt May. But after watching the original book and the movie, I found that the facial paralysis is really good, and the appearance of a love idiot is vividly expressed. Especially at the end, when I watched it for the first time, I was thinking that the facial paralysis is really well-deserved, and seeing the person I love the most is also the same rigidity for thousands of years. But after looking at it frame by frame, you will find that Therese's expression changes very, very slightly. She is actually laughing, laughing with her eyes, and the girl is very powerful. But it doesn't mean that the big devil is not good, it's just a little different from the image I imagined after reading the novel. Sometimes her raised chin and slightly raised mouth corners make me wonder if she's playing silly Bai Tian, but fortunately there is Carol's disappointment and affectionate I love you after hearing Abby mention Therese's name. I feel that the Great Demon King is a little bit stubborn, so I can put it down a little and be gentle. But maybe all the ladies in the 1950s had this kind of face, maybe I didn't have culture. In any case, there is no doubt that "Carol" is Cate, Rooney and Todd have contributed a very fine work to the audience.
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