Todd Haynes’ Carol is a film about love and longing, the latter of which is a feeling Chicago cinephiles know all too well, as they’ve been looking forward to seeing the acclaimed director’s latest drama for quite some time. By assembling a classy team of talent both in front of (Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara) and behind the camera (Carter Burwell, Edward Lachman), Haynes has crafted one of the year’s most anticipated films. Our own Mike D’Angelo reviewed the film when it opened in New York last month and called it “something remarkable,” a moving portrait of two women “without a trace of winking or archness.” Carol finally makes its way to Chicago on December 25, but, if you’re lucky, Christmas can come early this year: The A.V. Club and The Weinstein Company have and opportunity for you to see it for free on December 21. For your chance to win a pair of passes to the advance screening, simply follow the link here and enter your information. Remember: Advance screenings are often intentionally overbooked, so be sure to arrive early if you want to guarantee yourself a seat. An official plot synopsis and trailer for the film can be found below.
“In an adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s seminal novel The Price of Salt, Carol follows two women from very different backgrounds who find themselves in an unexpected love affair in 1950s New York. As conventional norms of the time challenge their undeniable attraction, an honest story emerges to reveal the resilience of the heart in the face of change. A young woman in her 20s, Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara), is a clerk working in a Manhattan department store and dreaming of a more fulfilling life when she meets Carol (Cate Blanchett), an alluring woman trapped in a loveless, convenient marriage. As an immediate connection sparks between them, the innocence of their first encounter dims and their connection deepens.”