Carol (2015) Movies Review

『I Am Not Ashamed of You』

🎥 Film Overview

🎬 Title: Carol (2015)
🌍 Country: 🇺🇸 USA / 🇬🇧 UK
🎞️ Genre: Drama / Romance
🗓️ Production & Release: Film4 Productions, Number 9 Films, Killer Films
⏳ Runtime: 118 minutes
📢 Director: Todd Haynes
🖋️ Screenplay: Phyllis Nagy
📖 Based on: Patricia Highsmith’s The Price of Salt
📺 Platforms: Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Watcha, and more

👩‍💼 Cast: Cate Blanchett as Carol Aird
Rooney Mara as Therese Belivet
Sarah Paulson as Abby Gerhard

🧩 In-Depth Story Exploration (Spoilers Included)

🌨️ First Encounter – A Strange Pull of the Gaze

Just before Christmas, Therese, working in a department store toy section, meets the elegant Carol. Carol leaves behind her gloves, and when Therese returns them, their connection begins. In a fleeting glance, an undeniable attraction emerges. Carol invites Therese to lunch. 💬 “What a strange girl you are. Flung out of space.” This iconic line captures the strangeness and beauty of Carol’s feelings toward Therese.

🚗 The Journey – Growing Intimacy and Harsh Realities

The two leave the city for a road trip through the Midwest, forging a deep emotional bond. Carol, in the midst of a divorce, and Therese, still discovering herself, draw closer. They spend a night together, but their intimacy is soon shadowed by surveillance. Carol’s husband hires a private investigator, recording their trip, which escalates into a custody battle over her daughter.

📼 Choice – A Painful Separation for Survival

Discovering the recording device in their motel room, Carol leaves a letter for Therese, ending the trip and returning to New York. In court, she accepts disadvantage in custody but refuses to deny her truth. 💬 “I won’t deny it. I won’t lie. And I am not ashamed.” Her words embody a fearless declaration of identity and love—the heart of the film’s message.

🌅 Final Scene – Subtle Freedom and Silent Hope

After their separation, Therese chooses an independent path as a photographer. In the film’s closing, they meet again in a restaurant. Their exchanged glances and small smiles signal both a reconfirmation of love and a quiet defiance against societal barriers.

🦋 Emotional Resonance and Thematic Significance

🎬 A Lens Into a Repressive Era

Director Todd Haynes recreates 1950s America with a delicate touch—classic film tones, lingering shots, and framing through windows and mirrors. Characters are often shown behind glass, symbolizing love that is seen yet unreachable. Costumes, music, and mise-en-scène enrich the historical authenticity and emotional depth.

🌈 Courage to Exist in an Oppressive Time

Carol is more than a romance; it is a narrative of survival under legal and social oppression against same-sex love in the 1950s. Carol’s choice not to deny herself—even at the cost of custody—becomes one of the strongest declarations in queer cinema: a refusal to be ashamed.

🖼️ Character-Driven Narrative and Cinematic Texture

The story unfolds largely through Therese’s perspective. The camera captures silences and glances more than words, emphasizing emotional restraint yet profound resonance. Light, reflections, and muted gestures speak louder than dialogue. Abby (Sarah Paulson), rather than a rival, stands as a supportive ally, offering a message of queer solidarity over competition.

🎯 Personal Rating

💕 Love Scene Intensity: ♥♥♥
⭐ Overall Score: ★★★★★