Cate Blanchett and Mia Wasikowska (The Kids are Alright) are set
to star in Carol, a film adaption of Patricia Highsmith's novel The
Price of Salt, a lesbian love story set in 1950s New York.
Lesbian playwright, Phyllis Nagy has written the adaption based
on Highsmith's novel, originally published under a pseudonym. The
reknowned suspense writer authored a string of psychological
thrillers, including Strangers on a Train and The Talented Mr
Ripley.
Carol is a love story about pursuit, betrayal and passion that
follows the burgeoning relationship between two very different
women. One, a girl in her twenties working in a department store
who dreams of a more fulfilling life, and the other, a wife trapped
in a loveless, moneyed marriage desperate to break free but fearful
of losing her daughter in the process. The story was very
significant at the time the novel was published in 1952, because it
was one of the first pieces of fiction to step away from the usual
depiction of lesbian relationships simply as short-term flings and
portray the relationship as a real love story. Highsmith is known
to have had relationships with both women and men.
Directed by BAFTA winning John Crowley (Intermission, Boy A),
the film will be produced by award-winning producing partners
Elizabeth Karlsen and Stephen Woolley from Number 9 Films, one of
the UK's leading independent production companies, and co-developed
and co-financed by Film4. Filming starts February 2013 in London
and New York.
Tessa Ross at Film4 commented: "Carol is a
beautiful and heart-breaking story and it's a testament to the
talents of Phyllis and John that we've attracted actresses of Cate
and Mia's calibre to star at the heart of it. We are delighted to
be working with Liz and Stephen at Number 9 to help put together
what promises to be a truly wonderful film."
