“The topic might seem heavy, but the story has humour and light in it”: Zuzana Kirchnerová on Caravan at Cannes Film Festival 2025
Caravan is a tender, introspective road drama from Zuzana Kirchnerová, making its debut in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes. Loosely inspired by her own life, Kirchnerová’s feature debut follows Esther (Anna Geislerová), a single mother embarking on an unplanned road trip through Italy with her teenage son David (David Vostrčil), who has Down syndrome and autism, and Zuza (Juliana Brutovska), an enigmatic hitchhiker they meet along the way. With a keen eye for emotional nuance, Kirchnerová weaves a narrative rich in authenticity, exploring themes of motherhood, independence, and the parallel coming-of-age journeys of both mother and son.
Ahead of the film’s premiere, Kirchnerová spoke with The Upcoming about drawing from her own maternal experiences and youthful memories to shape Caravan. She reflected on the emotional complexity of adolescence, the personal and cultural significance of Italy’s coastline, and her commitment to challenging societal perceptions of disability through film.
Christina Yang
Caravan does not have a release date yet.
Read more reviews from our Cannes Film Festival coverage here.
For further information about the event visit the Cannes Film Festival website here.
Watch the trailer for Caravan here:
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