The discrimination and legal persecution that gay men had to go through until laws were gradually changed starting in the 1960s has been covered in many films, most recently in the film about the British mathematician Touring. But I had never seen a film about a woman facing legal persecution for having sexual relationships with another woman. Carol takes place in New York of the early 1960s. The strongest part of the film was how well it portrayed the style of the period.

I have long wondered where all the old cars are parked that allow filmmakers to recreate eras long gone by. Almost two-thirds of the film go by before Carol and her much younger lover dare to kiss for the first time. But the jealous husband has hired an enterprising private detective who records the sounds of female passion and now the legal troubles of Carol truly begin. Coming out in the 1960s for women may have been even harder than for men.