Carol trailer: Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett launch their Oscars bids in Fifties lesbian romance

Carol received overwhelmingly positive reviews at Cannes earlier this year

Cate Blanchett as Carol in Todd Hayne's early Oscars contender (Press handout)

It's already been tipped as an Oscar contender after receiving glowing reviews at Cannes and now, the beautiful first teaser trailer for Fifties romance Carol has dropped, set to the tune of "My Foolish Heart".

Based on Patricia Highsmith's novel, The Price of Salt, the film follows the "journey of self discovery" of a woman in a loveless marriage who sparks a connection with Rooney Mara's young 20-something department store clerk, Therese Belivet.

Their connection soon deepens, but while Carol breaks free from her husband (Kyle Chandler), he "threatens her competence as a mother" as her involvement with both Therese and best friend Abby comes to light.

"As Carol leaves the comfort of home to travel with Therese, an internal journey of self-discovery coincides with her new sense of space," the official synopsis reads.

The much-hyped period drama is directed by Todd Haynes and reaches UK cinemas on 27 November.

Mara took home the Best Actress award at Cannes and is an early favourite for an Academy Award, while Blanchett triumphed in 2014 with Blue Jasmine and may well do so again. That all remains to be seen, but Carol certainly has the critics excited.