Review of Carol's Journey (2002) by Walter M — 06 Mar 2008

[font=Century Gothic]"Carol's Journey" takes place in 1938 as Aurora(Maria Barranco) arrives back in her old hometown in Spain with her young daughter, Carol(Clara Lago), after many years of living in New York to visit her father(Alvaro de Luna). Aurora was estranged from her family after renouncing her fiance to marry an American who is involved in the fighting, returning only after the death of her mother. As she tells her friend, Maruja(Rosa Maria Sarda), she has returned because she is dying...[/font].

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[font=Century Gothic]"Carol's Journey" is an adequate coming of age tale that is nowhere near the level of Guillermo del Toro's excellent movies set around the Spanish Civil War. While having little to do with the war itself, the movie exploits its juvenile characters in the cause of peace which is normally a noble sentiment but the Spanish Civil War was one of the very few wars where there was something worth fighting for. In the end, the movie is redeemed by one absolutely wonderful scene and a slightly unexpected climax. [/font].