In 1950s Manhattan, Therese (Rooney Mara), an aspiring photographer, works at a department store around Christmas time. There, she meets Carol (Cate Blanchett), who buys a train set for her daughter. The two hit it off, and eventually begin an affair.

That’s all you really need to know about ‘Carol.’ If the story of a homosexual affair in a repressed society appeals to you, you’ll enjoy the film. If not, you won’t. The film doesn’t really add anything insightful or unpredictable to the idea, but it does paint a good portrait of two women trapped in a difficult situation. Blanchett adds her typical (as odd as that seems to say) brilliance to the role, as she demonstrates how simultaneously intrigued she is with Therese as well as desperation at her plight (her husband frequently blackmails her by suggesting she can’t see their daughter if she acts on her lesbian tendencies). But the real highlight here is Mara, who brilliantly underplays the role. Carol is shy and insecure. She doesn’t know how to handle her new relationship and is reluctant to act on it. But she doesn’t convey it in a showy way; she displays her emotion through various looks and subtle facial expressions. It’s not a typical performance you’ll see from films like this, which makes it all the more brilliant.