El Viaje de Carol

Carol's Journey was a very touching film. Although I feel like I was able to understand most of the plot without subtitles, I think I would have better understood more of the significant details of the film if I had known what they were saying, not just relying on reading their expressions and body language. A taste of how alienated someone feels when you can't understand what someone is saying to you.

Carol seemed to easily adapt to some of the conventionalisms found in this culture. As far as language, she adapted very easily as apparently she spoke fluent Spanish due to her mother's heritage. We see her resisting some conventionalisms in the areas of religion and family. Catholicism being the prevalent religion of Spain, we see Carol depicted taking religion classes and participating in her first communion. She insists on wearing an outfit the boys wear for first communion, indicating her rebellious spirit. Carol develops a strong bond with her grandfather, her cousin, and the three boys from town. When she first arrives in Spain, Carol appears angry about the whole situation. One wonders if Carol sensed that this homecoming for her mother was in anticipation of her death and this was her resistence or defiance of this approaching situation? Carol never could develop a close bond with her aunt and uncle who became her caretakers after her mother's death. Her resistence to them led her to seek out her grandfather and get him to return to his home with her.

Carol's American background impedes her adaptation to the Spanish culture mostly due to her independent spirit. She typically dresses more like a tomboy than as a girl. She dresses the way she feels most comfortable, with overalls, gym shoes and short hair. She climbs trees, rides bikes, physically fights for what she wants,and has more of a cold climate personality-more aloof, introverted. Her diary is her constant companion. She is a mature child for her age. Unafraid of speaking her mind or challenging adults reflects some of her American spirit, which also would impede her adaptation to the Spanish culture. She also wants things her way, wants to call the shots, wants to be in control of situations, and is willing to force the issue, as noted in the way she dressed, insisting her grandfather not tell her dad about her mother's death, her outfit for first communion,returning to live with her grandfather instead of her aunt and uncle, and ignoring her grandfather until he paints over the graffiti on the walls outside the house. Her independent spirit was definitely reflected in her personality.

I thought this was really a good film and hope to watch it with subtitles at some point.