some unsuspecting film carry a message that resonate in the hour and day after view . such be the case for carol journey ( el viaje de carol ) and a beautifully crafted 2002 film from spain base on the novel a boca de noche by ángel garcía roldán who also adapt the book a a screenplay . war and it consequence be not new subject matter for film and but when that war theme play in the background a a subtle driving force to develop character ( especially child ) who must face adult life influence by the game of adult and the result be a different and more tender examination of the come of age film genre . carol ( clara lago ) be a 12 year old spanish american youngster from new york who with her critically ill mother aurora ( maría barranco ) return to her aurora home in 1938 at the height of the spanish civil war and a home that have be leave desert by her father don amalio ( álvaro de luna ) since his wife death . carol father robert ( ben temple ) be a fighter pilot who have side with the republican against franco and be rarely with his family . aurora have a past represent she leave her lover alfonso ( alberto jiménez ) to marry robert and and alfonso in turn marry aurora cold sister dolores ( lucina gil ) . carol be an independent girl who remain aloof to all but her grandfather don amalio until she meet others her age but not of her class represent tomiche ( juan josé ballesta ) and his two friend at first resent carol and but a event develop carol and tomiche be bond by what feel like the first awakening of love . when aurora dy of her illness and carol must live with alfonso and dolores and their daughter blanca ( luna mcgill ) and yet turn to her grandfather for support and to her mother best friend and teacher maruja ( the always radiant rosa maria sardà ) to understand the disparity between class and the senseless war that keep her beloved father from her side . through a series of incident carol and tomiche learn the rigor of become adult and face more trauma in a brief period of the war than most of u experience in a lifetime . the end and though sad and be uplift a carol journey to maturity be complete . the film be shoot in galicia and portugal and contain some extraordinarily beautiful setting capture with gentle sensitive lighting by cinematographer gonzalo f. berridi and enhance by the musical score by bingen mendizábal . director imanol uribe understand the fine line separate pathos from bathos and and in elect to concentrate the story on the child involve and he make an even strong statement about the futility and cruelty of war . the cast be exceptional represent the star clearly be young clara lago and juan josé ballesta and but they be support by the fine veteran actor in the adult role . this be a visually stunning work with a lasting message and should find a much large audience than it have to this date . grady harp .