Caravan (CZ, 2025)

Sun, sea, nothing. After years of caring for her mentally disabled son David (David Vodstrčil), forty-five-year-old Ester (Aňa Geislerová) it seems like a dream come true. So she accepts an invitation from friends to visit them in Italy. But in a foreign environment, David is unpredictable, full of emotions and causes problems. Ester doesn't want to be a nuisance to anyone, so she starts an old, disused caravan and sets off alone with her son on a journey across Italy. No plan, no obligations, just the two of them. Into their lives comes the authentic Zuza (Juliana Brutovská), before whom they can be themselves. She also makes Ester realise that her son is no longer a child, and she finally finds the courage to want something from life for herself. CARAVAN is a poetic road movie about freedom, different forms of love, the aggressive desire to finally start living, not just surviving.

"THE CARAVAN feels very authentic and strikes the viewer with unexpected emotional power. We sense the warmth and authenticity of the experience, emphasized by numerous detailed shots of the protagonists; when we see them, it is as if we are looking deep into their souls." (Agáta Pilátová, Přítomnost.cz)

Come and see the story of a lonely, exhausted mother who sets off on a journey through Italy with her disabled son. This poetic road movie tells a story of freedom, different forms of love, and an aggressive desire to finally start living, not just surviving. The first Czech film in 31 years to be selected for one of the competition sections at the Cannes Film Festival, it received four nominations for the Czech Film Critics' Awards – for Best Film, Best Director (Zuzana Kirchnerová), and Best Actress (Ani Geislerová) and Best Actor (David Vodstrčil). The nominees, together with producer Dagmar Sedláčková, have promised to participate in a discussion with the audience after the screening, which will be led by Vojtěch Rynda, a member of the Czech Film Critics Association. 

The 16th Czech Film Critics' Awards will be presented on Saturday, February 7, with YouTuber, comedian, and former political commentator Jan Špaček hosting the gala evening. Czech Television will broadcast the ceremony live on ČT art at 8:15 p.m.