International sales outfit Pluto Film has acquired comedy “Chica Checa,” which is making its world premiere at the upcoming Karlovy Vary Intl. Film Festival.

Written and directed by Šimon Holý, “Chica Checa” explores a widow’s journey as she deals with her son’s hidden identity as a drag queen. But both mother and son discover that reinvention is possible at any age.

Holý’s fourth feature centers on widow Zdena, a mail carrier in a small Czech village who leads a quiet life. When her beloved son Lukáš, who has moved to Paris, comes home to visit his dying grandmother, he comes out to his mother and says he makes his living as a drag queen, Chica Checa (“Czech girl”), not as a bank employee. While she reacts poorly at first, she loves her son unconditionally and their bond is more important than village gossips or calcified attitudes.

The crowd-pleasing feature screens in competition at Karlovy Vary.

“In a time when we are witnessing dramatic events all around the world, our team has tried to create a film that communicates challenging themes in a light and warm way, without losing its artistic value,” says Holý, who also composed the music. “The film, which we dedicated together with producer Alžběta Janáčková to our mothers, explores themes of intergenerational understanding and the unwavering desire and strength to live life the way we want, without harming anyone in the process. In today’s world, when politicians not only in Central and Eastern Europe are seeking to restrict rights, this appears to be absolutely crucial and fundamental.”

“Chica Checa” stars Pavla Tomicová, Jan Cina and Alexandra Borbély.

“We fell in love with this heartwarming film immediately,” notes Pluto Film’s managing director Benjamin Cölle. “The film refuses to make a false choice between artistic integrity and emotional truth. We are convinced that its intimate storytelling—infused with warmth, subtle and sensitive humor, and a deep understanding of the mother-son dynamic—will resonate powerfully with wide range of audiences worldwide, as well as with queer communities.”

The film is a Czech, Slovak and French co-production, produced by Janáčková (Silk Film, Czech Republic),co-produced by Silvia Panáková (Arina Film, Slovak Republic), Czech Television and Frédéric Bellaiche and Alexis Dantec (French Connection, France). The film received support from the Czech Audiovisual Fund, Slovak Audiovisual Fund, Île-de-France Region-Paris Region, Pilsen Region (CZ) and by the European Union through the Just Transition Programme 2021–2027 and Next Generation EU.