Lena Torres
The 2015 historical romantic drama film Carol, directed by Todd Haynes, features sound in the form of a soundtrack and score. The film is based on the 1952 romance novel The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith and explores the invisible lesbian sub-culture of the 1950s. The music in the film, composed by Carter Burwell, plays a crucial role in evoking the right emotions and setting the tone for the forbidden romance between the two main characters, Carol and Therese. The score received nominations from prestigious award ceremonies and won several accolades, including Best Music from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and the Satellite Award for Best Original Score.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Release date | 2015 |
| Genre | Historical romantic drama |
| Director | Todd Haynes |
| Screenplay | Phyllis Nagy |
| Based on | The 1952 romance novel "The Price of Salt" by Patricia Highsmith |
| Starring | Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Sarah Paulson, Jake Lacy, Kyle Chandler |
| Setting | 1950s New York City |
| Plot | A forbidden affair between an aspiring female photographer and an older woman going through a difficult divorce |
| Soundtrack | Original score by Carter Burwell, with additional music by various artists |
| Awards and nominations | Best Music from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, Satellite Award for Best Original Score, Best Score by the International Cinephile Society, Public Choice Award for Best Score of the Year by the World Soundtrack Awards, Film Composer of the Year award for Carter Burwell |
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What You'll Learn
The film's music and score
The film Carol features a musical score composed by Carter Burwell. The original score was produced, orchestrated, and conducted by Burwell, with additional music performed by The Clovers, Billie Holiday, Georgia Gibbs, Les Paul and Mary Ford, and Jo Stafford. The vinyl version of the soundtrack is divided into two double-sided 10-inch discs: Album One – The Score and Album Two – The Songs.
Burwell received the script for Carol before the film began principal photography. Director Todd Haynes also sent him six CDs of songs from the 1950s that he and music supervisor Randy Poster had compiled. However, Burwell did not begin composing the music until Haynes had shot and assembled the film. Initially, Burwell considered using two solo instruments, as there were only two main characters, and everyone else "just passes through."
According to Burwell, there are three main themes in the score that communicate a visual language. The music heard in the opening city scene depicts the "active engagement and passion" of Carol and Therese, conveying something about the characters before they are seen. This music becomes their love theme. For the theme expressing Therese's fascination with Carol, Burwell introduced a cloud of piano notes, requiring the notes played by the left hand to disappear into a cloud while those played by the right hand remained distinct enough to carry the melody. The third theme is about absence and loss and is expressed in the voice-over scene where Therese reads a letter from Carol.
Burwell wrote the score with a small ensemble of eight to 17 musicians. The smallest arrangement consisted of string quartets with bass, harp, piano, and clarinet. The instruments he used for Carol's character were piano, clarinet, and vibe, which he described as a "cypher" and "a cool, aloof mystery." The whole process of writing, recording, and mixing took about eight weeks for 38 minutes of music.
The score for Carol received nominations from the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Critics' Choice Movie Awards, and London Film Critics' Circle. It won Best Music from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the Satellite Award for Best Original Score, and Best Score by the International Cinephile Society. In 2016, it won the Public Choice Award for Best Score of the Year by the World Soundtrack Awards, and Burwell received the Film Composer of the Year award.
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The sound design
The 2015 historical romantic drama film Carol, directed by Todd Haynes, features an acclaimed sound design by Carter Burwell. Burwell's score plays a pivotal role in the film, enhancing the emotional depth of the story and complementing the film's visual language.
Burwell's approach to the score was influenced by the film's exploration of a forbidden romance between two women in the 1950s. He aimed to express the unspoken emotional tensions and yearnings of the characters, given the cultural constraints of the era. To achieve this, he employed a range of instruments, including piano, clarinet, and vibe, creating a sense of ""coolness" and emotional distance while still conveying the characters' underlying passions.
One notable aspect of the sound design is the use of piano notes to represent Therese's fascination with Carol. In the scene where Carol drives Therese to her house, Burwell introduces a cloud of piano notes, with the left hand disappearing into a cloud and the right hand carrying the melody. This musical texture reflects the public nature of their courtship gradually moving towards a more intimate setting.
The score also incorporates additional music from the 1950s, including songs by artists like The Clovers, Billie Holiday, Georgia Gibbs, and Jo Stafford. These songs were carefully chosen for their lyrical content, unintentionally mirroring the forbidden nature of the central romance. The inclusion of period music adds authenticity to the film's portrayal of the era and enhances the overall atmosphere.
Burwell's composition process involved close collaboration with Haynes. They discussed the balance between "heated" and "cool" elements in the music to accurately portray the characters' emotions. Burwell also drew inspiration from the film's visual aesthetic, aiming for a lushness that complemented the period costumes and design. The entire process, from writing to mixing, took approximately eight weeks for 38 minutes of music.
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The film's visuals
The film Carol is a visual masterpiece. Director Todd Haynes is known for his strong sense of visuals, and this is evident in the film's use of colour, light, and composition to create a lush and controlled visual look. The film was shot on Super 16 mm film using 35 mm format lenses, which gives it a unique texture and feel.
One of the most striking aspects of the film's visuals is the use of glass and windows as a framing device. Therese and Carol are often shot through glass panes, whether they're in a car or sitting in a restaurant. This motif symbolizes their entrapment within a society that does not accept their forbidden love. The use of doorways as a framing device may also symbolize the feeling of suffocation or claustrophobia that the characters experience as they are forced to hide their true selves.
The film's production design and costume design also contribute to the overall visual impact. The story is set in the 1950s, and the film immerses the audience in the styles and attitudes of the time. The costume designer, Sandy Powell, worked closely with Haynes to create a look that was influenced by postwar colour photography and abstract photography. The film's locations, including various spots around Cincinnati and a private set built for a love scene, also add to the visual appeal of the film.
Another important visual motif in the film is the use of voyeurism and surveillance. The characters are often shown looking at each other, and the camera acts as a voyeur, capturing intimate moments between them. This adds to the sense of forbidden desire and the idea that their love is something to be kept hidden.
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The story and characters
Carol is a 2015 historical romantic drama film directed by Todd Haynes. The film is based on Patricia Highsmith's 1952 romance novel, The Price of Salt, which was republished as Carol in 1990. The story is set in 1950s New York City and centres around a forbidden affair between two women from different backgrounds.
The main character, Therese Belivet (played by Rooney Mara), is a clerk working in a Manhattan department store during the Christmas season. She is an aspiring photographer and dreams of a more fulfilling life. Therese is in a relationship with her boyfriend, Richard, but feels ambivalent about their future together.
One day, Therese meets Carol Aird (played by Cate Blanchett), a semi-divorced woman with a young daughter. Carol is trapped in a loveless and convenient marriage, and she is immediately attracted to Therese. As the two women spend more time together, their initial connection deepens into an unexpected love affair.
Carol's husband, Harge Aird (played by Kyle Chandler), begins to question her competence as a mother as her involvement with Therese and her close friendship with Abby (played by Sarah Paulson) come to light. He tries to win Carol back, but she continues to pursue her relationship with Therese.
The film explores the challenges faced by Carol and Therese as they navigate their forbidden romance in a society with strict social norms and conventions. It delves into the themes of desire, resilience, and the power of women's gaze. The story is told through subtle glances, gestures, and dialogue, allowing the audience to interpret the characters' feelings and the progression of their relationship.
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Critical reception
The 2015 film Carol received critical acclaim for its direction, cinematography, production design, and performances. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 94% rating based on 320 critic reviews, with an average rating of 8.60/10. Many critics praised the film's exploration of lesbian romance in the 1950s and its visual style, which contrasted the beauty of its surfaces with the duality of its characters and relationships.
Several reviews highlighted the strong performances of the lead actresses, Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, who portrayed the complex dynamics of their characters' relationship with subtlety and depth. Mara's portrayal of Therese's timidity and vulnerability was particularly noted, with one review describing how "you keep in the movie every second." Blanchett's performance as Carol was also praised for its inaccessibility in the first half of the film, which drew viewers into Therese's infatuation.
The film's direction by Todd Haynes was widely acclaimed for its deft handling of the source material, with one review stating that Haynes "serves their romance as a restorative cocktail, adding splashes of color to a repressive Eisenhower era." Haynes' attention to detail and measured restraint in maintaining the focus on love, rather than cheaper plot devices, were also commended.
In addition to the performances and direction, Carol's technical aspects, such as cinematography, production design, costume design, and soundtrack, were also praised. The film's grainy 16mm aesthetic, elegant fashion, and atmospheric winter setting were highlighted as contributing to its overall visual appeal. The film's score was noted for evoking a sense of mystery that complemented the story's themes of passion and heartache.
However, some reviews suggested that the film's focus on self-determined women and its exploration of lesbian romance may have contributed to a less favourable reception from certain audiences or award-granting bodies. Richard Lawson of Vanity Fair, for example, suggested that the film might be "too gay" and "too female" for the largely male voting base of the Academy.
Despite these differing opinions, Carol received numerous awards and honours, including Best LGBTQ Film of the Year at the Dorian Awards, the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film – Wide Release, and the British Film Institute's award for the best LGBT film of all time. It was also selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Queer Palm, and was named the best-reviewed romance film of 2015 by Rotten Tomatoes.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the movie Carol has sound. It was released in 2015 and has a soundtrack with songs from the 1950s.
The movie Carol features a score composed and conducted by Carter Burwell, with additional music performed by artists including The Clovers, Billie Holiday, and Jo Stafford. The music was nominated for and won several awards.
Carol is a historical romantic drama film directed by Todd Haynes and based on the 1952 novel The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith. The story is about a forbidden love affair between two women in 1950s New York City.
You can watch Carol on streaming platforms such as Max, or rent or buy it on Fandango at Home. It may also be available on other streaming services or for purchase on DVD or Blu-ray.
