CAROL
Cate Blanchett + Rooney Mara Fall in Love
It’s June, which means it’s time to highlight some great movies for Pride month, and why not go with gorgeous period piece Carol. Watch it free here.
Cate Blanchett, although not actually gay, is a lesbian icon for a reason, and this film only serves to illustrate why. Based on Patricia Highsmith’s novel The Price of Salt, Carol follows the blossoming romance between shopgirl Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara) and the elegant, worldly Carol Aird (Blanchett). The two meet one day while Carol comes looking for a Christmas present for her daughter in the department store where Therese works. Therese finds herself immediately drawn to the older woman, and when Carol accidentally leaves her gloves in the store, Therese takes it upon herself to make sure they are returned, thus leading to a delicate love story between the two, all while Carol fights her ex-husband for custody of their daughter.
While the film’s 1950s time period might give you pause, don’t worry, this is not another bury-your-gays movie. Yes, it’s certainly a drama, and things are not always smooth sailing for the film’s leading lovers, but that doesn’t mean it is bleak. No, this beautiful movie (SPOILER ALERT) actually ends on a positive note for the two.
You can watch Carol for free (with ads) on Tubi. And after you’ve done that, why not check out other great queer films. In fact, why don’t you make Carol a double feature with another 1950s-set classic lesbian love story, Desert Hearts? Much like Carol, Desert Hearts, which came out in 1986, deals with the blossoming romance between a woman in the midst of divorce and an artistic younger woman. Desert Hearts is free on HBO Max.
