Carol to Make Its Russian Debut Despite Anti-Gay Propaganda Law

Carol is a surefire Oscar contender having snatched five Golden Globe nominations and resting comfortably at or near the top of every film critic's list--well, most critics. Next year in March the Todd Haynes film will break even more ground with a premiere in the notoriously homophobic Russia.

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Yan Vizinberg, co-founder and CEO of Arthouse and its US-based parent company Lorem Ipsum Corp, called releasing the film a "dream" but acknowledged that it will also prove tricky.

"Carol is no doubt the main film event of this year, and definitely the most exciting love story to hit the screen recently," Vizinberg told The Holywood Reporter. "It's also a huge challenge because of the federal 'gay propaganda' law that victimizes the Russian LGBT community. Carol is rated R in the U.S., but in Russia the film will certainly be assigned an 18+ age rating due to these laws."

The laws will prevent Carol from appearing on TV or advertised on federal networks, but Vizinberg thinks that could work to the film's advantage.

"On the positive side, the controversy around the LGBT issues will help us market Carol to the right audience: educated and open-minded intelligentsia," he said, adding that Carol is not a gay or lesbian film, "it's a film about a relationship, it's a story of forbidden love, and we believe that it will appeal to the public way beyond the LGBT community."