Parents' Guide to

Carol

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Moving, beautifully acted '50s-set drama about secret love.

Movie R 2015 118 minutes
Carol Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 14+

Based on 4 parent reviews

ladysybil
ladysybil Adult
July 21, 2020
age 15+

Beautiful Love Story

Carol is the love story of two women who come together despite both being in relationships with men. Needless to say, since they already have partners (whom they are not satisfied with), and since this movie is set in the 1950’s, the two women face much discrimination and challenges. Personally, although the acting was excellent and the story fascinating, I give it 4 stars instead of 5 simply because the plot wasn’t as captivating as I would have liked. Parents should be warned that during a sex scene, a woman’s bare breasts are shown, however the rest of the movie is very tame, save some brief language and violence that is not concerning in my opinion. It is a fairly slow but well-executed movie that depicts the delicate love and relationships of two strong women in a time where lesbian women faced many challenges.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much sex
1 person found this helpful.
davispittman
davispittman Adult
May 29, 2017
age 14+

Moving lesbian themed 1950s romance

Carol is a wonderfully acted 1950s romantic melodrama, it stars Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett. The two lead actresses do a great job at playing their roles in both a realistic and likable way. I was really moved and touched by the forbidden romance portrayed onscreen. The writing is very well done as well, it gives each character a good amount of depth. Content wise, the film earns its R rating from sexual content/nudity and some moderate language. There's a fairly strong lesbian sex scene with some breast nudity. I think a mature 14 year old should be just fine.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
1 person found this helpful.
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Based on Patricia Highsmith's novel The Price of Salt, CAROL tells the story of Carol Aird (Cate Blanchett), a 1950s New Jersey housewife estranged from her husband who finds herself drawn to aspiring photographer/Manhattan shopgirl Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara) when their paths cross on a shopping trip. When Therese reaches out to return gloves that Carol has forgotten at the store, so begins a friendship that evolves quickly into a passionate love. But there's a wrinkle: Carol's husband (Kyle Chandler) won't let her be -- let alone give her access to their daughter -- as Carol and Therese explore an attraction that can't and won't be denied, despite the prejudices of their time.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4):
Kids say (12):

This movie will haunt you with its tale of love denied and forbidden and a woman's quest to live authentically while facing social prejudices and bigotry that force her to make a difficult choice. Director Todd Haynes, as always, works with a saturated, Douglas Sirk-ian palette, but Carol's vibrancy is dimmed here by a layer of melancholy -- an apt choice, given the storyline.

Blanchett and Rooney make a powerful pair, perfectly matched like a veteran duo partnering up for an intricate and challenging ballet. And as Carol's best friend/former lover, Sarah Paulson gives a master class in grounded acting; in fact, almost everyone in the film comes across as a fully embodied person, neither caricature nor overthought character. And they're all supported by a potently rendered, empathetic script that's both achingly beautiful and hauntingly painful.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Carol and her choices: What were her realistic options? How would her situation be different today?

  • How does this film differ from others in the way it handles the subject of sexuality? How might this movie have been received if it came out in the era it takes place in?

  • How does the movie handle sex? What does it represent for the characters? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.

  • How do the characters in Carol demonstrate integrity? Why is this an important character strength?

Movie Details

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