You'll see in 'Carol' a lot of shots shot through windows, glass and awnings, with interruptions between where we are and where our object is. To me, I hope that that conjures the whole act of looking as a predicament, as something that is never easy and never completely attainable.

Todd Haynes’s quote explains the visual style used in his film "Carol", where many shots are framed through windows, glass, and awnings. This stylistic choice serves a deeper purpose beyond mere aesthetics. Haynes uses these visual interruptions to represent the act of looking as something complicated and distant. By placing barriers between the viewer and the subject, he highlights how desire, connection, and understanding are often obscured or unattainable, even when they are right in front of us.

Haynes, an acclaimed filmmaker known for his thoughtful and layered storytelling, often employs visual metaphors to explore complex emotions and relationships. In this quote, he describes the act of looking as a predicament—an act filled with frustration, longing, and distance. He suggests that the process of truly seeing or understanding another person is never straightforward. In the context of "Carol", which centers on the forbidden love between two women, these visual choices mirror the emotional barriers and social constraints the characters face.

The quote also speaks to a broader idea in cinema and in life, where what we desire or seek is often out of reach or clouded by external factors. The glass and windows in the film represent both physical and emotional barriers that prevent full connection, mirroring the internal struggles of the characters. Haynes uses these visual interruptions to evoke the feelings of longing and separation that define the narrative, suggesting that the full intimacy or understanding of another person is often elusive.

The origin of this quote lies in Haynes's approach to visual storytelling and his use of cinematic techniques to evoke emotional depth. By framing his scenes through barriers, Haynes transforms the act of looking into a reflection of the emotional and societal obstacles his characters must navigate. This artistic choice is a subtle yet powerful way to convey the challenges of love, desire, and identity in a world that often makes these things difficult to attain.