History Film / Carol

** Therese in the book comes across as a fawning FragileFlower. In the movie, she is much more stoic.

* BabyTrap: WordOfGod says the real reason Harge was attempting to get full custody of Rindy was so Carol would stay with him, if only so she could still have their daughter. It ends up falling when Carol agrees to let him have full custody while she gets visitation rights.

* DeliberateValuesDissonance: Harge's lawyer paints Carol as an unfit mother because of her lesbianism. Even in today's far more tolerant society, it's a tactic that could be used. Imagine back then, when homosexuality was still believed to be a mental illness.

* SexForSolace: Carol and [[spoiler: Therese's second time]] stems from a need to comfort each other over the havoc that's been wrought.

* SpiritualSuccessor: To ''Film/FarFromHeaven'', another 1950s-set romantic drama dealing with homosexual characters, but placing the gay romance front and center instead of in the B-plot.

* LipstickLesbian: Both Carol and Therese.

* PrettyInMink: Carol has a prominent fur coat.

* AmicableExes: [[spoiler:Carol and Abby seem to be this.]]

[[caption-width-right:250:Some people change your life forever.]]

''Carol'' is a 2015 British-American romantic drama film directed by Todd Haynes, from a screenplay by Phyllis Nagy [[TheFilmOfTheBook based on the novel]] ''The Price of Salt'' (also known as ''Carol'') by Patricia Highsmith. The book was originally published under the pseudonym Claire Morgan due to its controversial nature at the time.

* AllThereInTheManual: The woman who flirts with Therese at the party appears in the book and is called Genevieve Cantrell (the credits do list her under that name). The book characterises her more and says she's an aspiring actress.

* AmicableExes: [[spoiler: Carol and Abby seem to be this.]]

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: It seems like Carol and Therese may reconcile; however, Carol is in more danger of losing her child than she was at the beginning of the film.]]
* CaliforniaDoubling: Cincinnati "plays" New York.

* ChekhovsGun: Subverted. [[spoiler: Therese finds a gun in Carol's suitcase and Carol does threaten the PI with it, demanding the incriminating tapes, but it's never fired.]]

* CureYourGays: [[spoiler: Carol mentions going to see a therapist to try to fix her "moral problem." She does it mostly to attempt to get to see her child and presumably quits after admitting that her affair with Therese was something she wanted.]]

''Carol'' is a 2015 British-American romantic drama film directed by Todd Haynes, from a screenplay by Phyllis Nagy based on the novel ''The Price of Salt'' (also known as ''Carol'') by Patricia Highsmith. The book was originally published under the pseudonym Claire Morgan due to the controversial nature of the book at the time.

The film stars Creator/CateBlanchett, Creator/RooneyMara, Sarah Paulson, and Kyle Chandler. Set in 1952 in New York City, the film tells the story of a young aspiring photographer and her relationship with an older woman going through a difficult divorce.

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: It seems like Carol and Therese may reconcile, however Carol is in more danger of losing her child than she was at the beginning of the film.]]

* ChekhovsGunman: The supposed generic nice guy who chats up Carol and Therese at the motel in Iowa [[spoiler: is a private detective hired by Harge to spy on the two]].

* GirlinessUpgrade: Therese's appearance becomes visibly more stylish and sophisticated following her fling with Carol.

* SnowMeansLove: There's a snowfall going on when Therese goes to Carol's house for the first time, and the first pictures she takes of her are during it. At least [[http://www.impawards.com/2015/carol_ver4.html one poster]] depicts this scene.

* ValuesDissonance: Harge is noticeably drunk when he is about to drive away with Rindy in the car, and, aside from offering him coffee, Carol does not seem terribly alarmed.

* INeedAFreakingDrink: After the AnguishedDeclarationOfLove, a shaken Therese goes to Phil's party and wearily quips to him that he better have wine or beer.

* AdaptationPersonalityChange: Therese in the book comes across as a fawning FragileFlower. In the movie, she is much more stoic.

* IdiotBall: So, you and your husband are embroiled in a bitter divorce and custody battle [[spoiler: due to your adultery and lesbianism, and your attorney has just advised you that both are about to get worse due to your husband's newfound anger about yet another blossoming relationship. So you decide that the best plan of action is to... take off on a road trip with this new woman? Harge sends a private detective after them when he learns and the guy uncovers even MORE evidence to be used against Carol in the divorce and custody cases.]]