Summer School, 2001, the debut feature by writer-director Dužan Duong, is preparing for its American debut through a limited theatrical run. The film, which is described as the first Czech-Vietnamese feature, gained significant attention after its world premiere at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in 2025. Reel Citrus, a Los Angeles-based distributor specializing in Asian and diaspora cinema, has secured the rights to bring the movie to U.S. audiences.
The distribution plan includes a theatrical opening on December 11 at selected Cinemark locations. This release date positions the film to appear on screens just one week before the high-profile premieres of Dune 3 and Avengers: Doomsday. Following its brief run in cinemas, the film will become available for streaming on Amazon on December 18, with a global rollout scheduled to follow.
The story centers on Kien, a 17-year-old who returns to his family’s market stall in Cheb, a small town on the Czech border, after spending a decade in Vietnam. The narrative explores a chaotic summer during which the family attempts to rebuild their bonds and find stability.
Reel Citrus stated that the timing of the release is particularly relevant given current news cycles surrounding immigration and belonging in both Europe and the United States. The company aims to bring two distinct diaspora communities together in the same theaters to celebrate shared cultural experiences.
The film has received substantial critical and commercial success in its home market. During its theatrical run in Czech cinemas, it attracted more than 20,000 viewers. At the Czech Lion Awards, the national film honors, the movie won the award for best screenplay, shared by Duong, Jan Smutný, and Lukáš Kokeš. It also earned the best supporting actor award for Dũng Nguyễn, marking the first time a Vietnamese actor has received this specific honor.
The Czech Film Critics’ Awards recognized the film with titles for best screenplay and Discovery of the Year. Internationally, the movie won the Bronze Drum Award for best feature film at the Viet Film Fest, the largest U.S. festival for the Vietnamese diaspora. It also took home the best actor award for Tô Tiến Tài and the Audience Choice Award for best feature.
Reel Citrus strategically selected theater locations to target specific demographic groups. The film, which is presented in Vietnamese and Czech with English subtitles, will screen in areas with large Vietnamese American populations, including Huntington Beach, the Bay Area, Houston, Dallas, Seattle, Las Vegas, and the Washington, D.C. area. Additional screenings are planned in Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Central Texas, regions noted for strong Czech, Polish, and other Central and Eastern European communities.
An early screening at the Avalon Theatre in Washington, D.C., last March served as a test for the distributor. The event, co-presented with the Embassy of the Czech Republic, drew large numbers of Vietnamese American families as well as Czech and Polish moviegoers. Reel Citrus emphasized its approach of releasing films in person, one community at a time.
Brittany Tran, founder and managing director of Reel Citrus, noted that the film offers a unique perspective for many in the diaspora. She explained that while many are familiar with the Vietnamese American story, fewer are aware of Vietnamese families who have built lives in the Czech Republic and across Europe. Tran acknowledged the challenging competition from major blockbusters but expressed confidence that audiences who rarely see their own stories on the big screen are the primary target for this release.
Duong also reflected on the significance of the film reaching American theaters. He stated that Vietnamese families have been part of Czech life for decades, yet their stories are rarely depicted on screen. He created the film for his community in Cheb and for any family seeking to reconnect. Seeing the movie open in the United States before both Vietnamese and Czech audiences together holds special meaning for him.
