Join Kate Jinx and Brodie Lancaster, the hosts of the weekly pop culture conversation podcast SEE ALSO, for a post–film chat about this modern Christmas classic.

Adapted from crime novelist Patricia Highsmith’s infamous 1952 novel The Price of Salt, and directed by Todd Haynes (May December, The Velvet Underground) with a script by Phyllis Nagy, Carol is an intoxicating mid–century tale of forbidden love. Starring Cate Blanchett as the titular unhappily married woman who becomes entranced by younger aspiring photographer Therese (Rooney Mara) after a chance encounter at the Manhattan department store where Therese is moonlighting.

After a glove is left and a “dry martini with an olive” or two are had, their paths are flung into electric disarray on a cross–country road trip that takes place across the holiday season, while Carol’s lesbian bestie Abby (Sarah Paulson) looks on. It’s a journey that threatens to create further tensions with Carol’s looming custody battle, and can’t help but change both their lives. Nominated for six academy awards, Carol also features appearances by Carrie Brownstein, Jake Lacy, Cory Michael Smith, Kyle Chandler and John Magaro.

Rating

M

Duration

119 MINS