Carol is a 2015 British-American romantic drama film directed by Todd Haynes. The screenplay, written by Phyllis Nagy, is based on Patricia Highsmith's 1952 romance novel The Price of Salt. The film stars Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara as Carol Aird and Therese Belivet, two women from different classes and backgrounds embarking on a lesbian relationship in early 1950s New York City. Sarah Paulson, Kyle Chandler, and Jake Lacy feature in supporting roles. Carol premiered in May at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Queer Palm and Mara tied for the Best Actress award. It received a platform release in the United States, opening in four theaters on November 20, 2015 and going into wide release on January 15, 2016. Its $62,037 per theater average was the third-highest opening aver