The 2015 movie Carol follows the relationship of wealthy divorcee Carol, and a young photographer, Therese in 1952 in New York. Carol struggles with the possibility of losing custody of her young daughter due to the exposure of her homosexuality by her now ex-husband. It shows the struggles that members of the LGBT+ community faced during the 20th century and how it often damaged family relationships, and prevented loving relationships.
Carol is based off of the semi-autobiographical novel by Patricia Highsmith, published in 1952. It was based off a variety of experiences Highsmith had, some being with past lovers, and some with chance encounters. In the late 1990s, it was adapted into a script for the stage, and in 2015 it became a film.
Controversy occurred when the film, after receiving outstanding reviews from almost every prominent film-critic, was not nominated for best picture or best director categories. According to speculation, the film was not nominated due to the leads characters both being LGBT+ women. This caused criticism of the demographic of The Academy’s judges, most being older, white, men. The film being omitted from these award nominations simply supports the message of the movie: the struggles of being a woman and a member of the LGBT+ community in the world.
https://www.vulture.com/2015/11/frank-rich-carol-invisibility-of-lesbian-culture.html
By: Michaela Clem Jacobs
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