Caravan (Czech: Karavan) is a 2025 drama road film co-written and directed by Zuzana Kirchnerová in her feature directorial debut. It stars Anna Geislerová, David Vodstrčil, Juliana Brutovská-Oľhová, Mario Russo and Jana Plodková. The film had its world premiere in the Un Certain Regard section of the 78th Cannes Film Festival on 22 May 2025, and was theatrically released in the Czech Republic on 28 August 2025.
Contents
Premise
Ester, a burned out mother, embarks on an Italian road trip with her intellectually disabled son, David.
Cast
Anna Geislerová as Ester
David Vodstrčil as David
Juliana Brutovská-Oľhová as Zuza
Mario Russo as Marco
Jana Plodková as Petra
Giandomenico Cupaiulo as Tommaso
Production
The film was announced in 2019, but production was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Writer-director Zuzana Kirchnerová drew inspiration for the film from her own experiences raising a child with Down syndrome and autism. Principal photography took place in 2023. The film was shot over five weeks in Reggio Calabria, specifically Melito di Porto Salvo, Bova, Bova Marina, Palizzi, Condofuri, Montebello Ionico, Roghudi, San Lorenzo, Brancaleone, and Locri. Filming also took place near Bologna and in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic.
Release
Alpha Violet acquired the sales rights to the film in late April 2025. The film was screened in the Un Certain Regard section of the 78th Cannes Film Festival on 22 May 2025. It received a theatrical release in the Czech Republic on 28 August 2025.
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 12 critics' reviews are positive.