They can find other women to enjoy or fall in love with. This is why they don’t re-pick up their relationship. Abby and Carol know that they’re all each other has in terms of this level of unbridled friendship. Instead, we see these ladies forge these powerful connections in the broad daylight, unbeknownst to the men around them. It’s not focused on showing its characters repressed or oppressed. It subverts what you expect from a 50s set lesbian romance. This is what separates Carol from other Oscar-nominated gay dramas. It’s heartening to watch the women delightedly describe their paramours and sex lives, especially in this time of oppression. They get to be each other’s rock, where no secrets are kept. There’s a comfort in this platonic relationship. I'm talking serious 'Rita Hayworth' redhead.Ĭarol Aird : Really? You think you got what it takes to handle a redhead? Their friendship is deeper than any physical connection they may have shared.Ībby Gerhard : I got my eye on this redhead who owns a steak house outside of Paramus. Screenwriter Phyllis Nagy makes it clear that Abby and Carol were romantically linked in the past but over the decades, their relationship has evolved. While this works in certain pieces ( The Boys in the Band is all about gay men comparing their emotional wounds), it can often be a narrative crutch mining only cheap drama. The world has shunned them, so they have this chip on their shoulder. Especially in films set in the more repressive 50s, there’s a tendency for queer characters to be lovelorn, suffering or irascible.
#Top gay movies of 2015 movie
She has genuine interest because she wants her friend to be happy.Ī lesser movie or performer would’ve coded Abby as a jealous lover. Once logistics are over, she asks Carol about Therese. She needs to be as invisible as possible to Harge in order to keep spending time with Carol. She knows her place in this triangle is a tenuous one. Abby makes the observation that if Carol doesn’t show up, Abby will be blamed. The conversation mostly revolves around Carol’s attendance at Harge’s mother’s party. We first meet Abby as she drives Carol home from her date with Therese. It's the first time we see her, 23 minutes into the film.
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He knows they’ve been romantically linked in the past, but vocalizing it would only serve to make him feel more emasculated.Ībby picks Carol up from her date with Therese. Chandler does a good job of only slightly coding what he feels his wife’s intentions are with Abby. Instead, she’s Rindy’s godmother and close confidant of Carol. She’s mentioned by Carol’s soon-to-be-ex-husband Harge Aird (Kyle Chandler), who sneers when he asks their daughter Rindy (Sadie and Kennedy Heim) if she’s been seeing a lot of “Aunt Abby.” Abby is no blood aunt to Rindy. Like all icons, we hear about Abby before we actually see Abby.
#Top gay movies of 2015 full
In a sea full of lesbians in this film, there’s only one that's on our hearts and minds for this column.Ībby Gerhard (Sarah Paulson) is perhaps the greatest and most fully realized examples of a gay best friend.Ībby is mentioned first seventeen minutes into the movie by Harge, the best villain name in recent memory.
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As much as we’re transfixed by her and her love for Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara), this article isn’t about them. A single sultry glance from Cate Blanchett’s Carol could keep you warm all winter long.
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In honor of "Carol Day" (December 21st, the day Therese went to Carol’s house), the choice for Gay Best Friend was obvious! No Holiday Movie Watchlist is complete without a viewing of Carol, Todd Haynes’ romance masterpiece.
#Top gay movies of 2015 series
In this series by Christopher James we investigate the 'Gay Best Friend' trope in movies.