We conclude our Carol miniseries with a discussion about the influences and inspirations behind the 2015 film masterpiece. From those acknowledged by the director Todd Haynes – David Lean’s Brief Encounter – to others we gleaned from watching the film many times – the films of George Cukor, Deborah Kerr in The End of the Affair and Haynes’ own Far From Heaven. For this conversation Murtada welcomes back Izzy from Be Kind Rewind to discuss these topics and how forming a relationship with a film changes the way you view over time.
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The film is available on vudu.
Topics Discussed:
- Why does Carol resonate and has such cultural capital six years into its life. True or are we just living in a Carol bubble?
- Todd Haynes’ women; their internal lives brought to splendid vivid life. This time we get two. Compare Carol and Therese to Cathy Whitaker in Far From Heaven and the other Carol in Safe.
- Haynes insists that Carol and Far From Heaven are not similar despite taking place in the same time period. He maintains Carol is more realistic, a love story and not a melodrama though he also says “naturalism is artificial. It’s all artificial.”
- Haynes mentions David Lean and Brief Encounter as a direct inspiration for the epilogue and coda of Carol. Other Lean romances include Summertime and Doctor Zhivago.
- Because of the period setting this performance was compared to those from the golden age of hollywood. We talk about Deborah Kerr in The End of the Affair and Greta Garbo’s Romance.
- Cate’s look, blond hair, red lipstick against the period exquisite cinematography. She has a similar look in Nightmare Alley currently on release.
- How with repeated viewing the film becomes funny without losing its emotional impact.
Previous Episodes in the Carol MiniSeries:
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SUNDAYS WITH CATE 
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Cate has also done the two finger salute that is mentioned towards the end in both Truth and Bernadette.
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it’s a trademark Blanchett move
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Izzy from BKR makes a comparison between Cate and Deborak Kerr. Funnily enough I think the actual Phyllis Schlafly was inspired by Kerr’s image and presentation.
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