Tuesday, June 21, 2022, 6:30pm Castro
Patricia Highsmith is best known as the author of novels like Strangers on a Train (adapted into a Hitchcock film) and The Talented Mr. Ripley (starring Matt Damon and Jude Law), but her second novel, published under the pseudonym Claire Morgan, was the lesbian love story Carol (starring Kate Blanchett), revolutionary for 1952 most particularly for giving lesbian characters a happy ending. No one remorsefully runs back to her husband or commits suicide or murder or dies some grisly tragic death: the two main characters reunite and set off to make a life together. (Sorry if that’s a spoiler, but hey, it’s been 70 years.)
In her personal life, Highsmith was profoundly reticent, preferring her own company and that of her cats over most people, but there were several exceptions over the years, and we get to hear from a few of them in recent interviews. (Tragically, the filmmaker managed to track down one interview subject just days after her death, so she is referred to in the film only by pseudonym.) The narrative jumps from one partner to the next somewhat erratically, leaving it difficult for the audience to piece together a through line for the documentary as a whole. Recommended for all audiences, clearly a must see for fans of Mr. Ripley and especially for fans of Carol.
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