Caravane (also known as Karavan) is a Czech drama directed by Zuzana Kirchnerová-Spidlova, selected for the Un Certain Regard sidebar at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. This is the filmmaker’s feature debut, after gaining recognition in Cannes with her short film Bába, which won the Cinéfondation award. The film is set to hit French theaters on April 22, 2026.
Ester is raising her son David alone, who has an intellectual disability. As summer approaches, she longs for a moment of carefree relaxation in Italy, visiting longtime friends. But after a crisis involving David, tension quickly rises, forcing mother and son to retreat to an old caravan at the back of a garden—an emblem of their growing isolation.
On a whim, Ester decides to hit the road with David. What starts as an impulsive adventure quickly turns into a frantic escape and a quest for balance. Along the way, they meet Zuza, a free-spirited young traveler with no prejudices, who joins them for the journey. Gradually, this fragile trio crafts a unique unexpected freedom, navigating fleeting moments of joy and intimate confrontations.
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Selected for Un Certain Regard, Caravane was also in the running for the Camera d’Or, awarded to the best debut feature at the Cannes Film Festival. During the press conference, Thierry Frémaux highlighted the journey of Zuzana Kirchnerová, who participated in the Festival's residency programs before receiving this first official selection.
Led by captivating performances from Aňa Geislerová, a renowned figure in Czech cinema, and David Vostrčil, the film embraces the conventions of an intimate road movie. It features a naturalistic style of filmmaking and a leisurely pace that invites reflection. As the characters' journey unfolds geographically, it mirrors their emotional growth, exploring themes of family bonds, parental exhaustion, and the longing for independence.
With its tender, unpretentious gaze, Caravane speaks directly to fans of European auteur cinema and stories that delve into human relationships. The film examines parenthood through the lenses of doubt and exhaustion, yet also offers moments of grace and lightness.
Caravane
Film | 2026
Release Date: April 22, 2026
Drama | Runtime: 1h43
Directed by Zuzana Kirchnerová-Spidlova | Starring Aňa Geislerová, David Vostrčil, Juliana Olhová
Original Title: Karavan
Country: Czech Republic
With Caravane, Zuzana Kirchnerová presents a debut film rooted in personal experience and fluid movement, affirming a perspective already acclaimed at Cannes and carving out a fresh direction in contemporary Czech cinema.
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