Carol's Journey facts for kids

Carol's Journey (which is called El viaje de Carol in Spanish) is a Spanish movie from 2002. It's a drama film directed by Imanol Uribe. The story is about a Spanish-American girl named Carol. She visits her family's hometown in Spain during a very important time in history: the Spanish Civil War.

The Story of Carol's Journey

Carol Arrives in Spain

In 1938, 12-year-old Carol travels to Spain with her mother, Aurora. It's her first time visiting the country, as she grew up in New York, USA. Her American father, Robert, is a pilot. He is fighting in the war with a group called the International Brigade. Aurora stays in touch with him by sending letters. These letters are carried to the war front by a smuggler from Portugal.

Family Secrets and New Friends

Aurora's family is quite traditional. Carol and her mother have more modern American ways, which is a bit of a surprise for the local community. Aurora visits her old teacher and best friend, Maruja. She shares a sad secret: she is very ill and has come home to be with her family.

After her mother passes away, Carol asks her grandfather, Don Amalio, to keep it a secret from her father. She doesn't want to worry him while he is fighting. Carol also convinces Maruja to write letters to Robert, pretending they are from Aurora.

Carol then goes to live with her aunt Dolores and her cousin Blanca. She quickly makes friends with three local boys. One of them is Tomiche, and Carol feels a special connection with him.

The War Ends and New Challenges

Later, the war ends, and the Republican side is defeated. Don Amalio, Carol's grandfather, supported the Republican side. His family, however, supported General Franco. Because of this, Don Amalio is forced to burn his books that supported the Republicans.

Suddenly, Carol's father, Robert, secretly comes home. Carol is very happy to see him again! But the local authorities quickly search Don Amalio's house, looking for Robert. During this search, Tomiche, the boy Carol liked, is tragically killed. Carol had wanted to introduce Tomiche to her father.

Saying Goodbye

In the end, Carol goes back to New York to live with her father's parents. Don Amalio hopes that Carol's father, who has been taken prisoner, will not be in jail for too long. This is because he is an American citizen, and the United States is an important country.

As Carol rides in the car to the port, her friends catch up on their bikes to say goodbye. She imagines Tomiche is there with them, waving goodbye too.

Meet the Cast

See also

In Spanish: El viaje de Carol para niños