According to Huynh Lap's sharing, the script idea was cherished by him from the time of making the movie "Nha gia tien" (Fatherland House). During a trip to Con Dao to visit heroic martyrs, the male director thought a lot about the image of soldiers and the generation gap between the past and the present.
I ask myself, what if a person who has been through war still lives in peace today with unforgettable memories?", Huynh Lap said.
The inspiration for love for the homeland and country continued to be strengthened when he witnessed the enthusiasm of young people during major holidays such as April 30th, September 2nd as well as from the experience of participating in the Sao Nhap Ngu program.
Right from the film title, Huynh Lap has conveyed the story of two generations in a family. If "summer vacation" represents youth, then "retirement" is the image of the grandparents' generation.
After the success of giving opportunities to Phuong My Chi in "Nha gia tien", Huynh Lap continues to choose a new face for the main role of Tri Binh. According to the male director, Cody Nam Vo is a person who brings the energy suitable for the character, possesses innocence in acting and has influence on young audiences.
Meanwhile, the role of Mr. Thoi - a veteran and also Tri Binh's grandfather - was assigned to Meritorious Artist Cao Minh. Huynh Lap said that he was particularly impressed with the male artist's demeanor after watching the movie "The Tunnels" and quickly received a nod from him after sharing about the script.
Besides the family story, Summer Break is afraid of retirement continues to exploit the spiritual element of life - the familiar color in Huynh Lap's works. However, this project is invested on a larger scale in terms of setting, technique and recording equipment.
Producer Hong Tu revealed that the crew first used underwater filming equipment, performed large-scale rain scenes and mobilized many specialized vehicles to serve the production process.
Creative Director Ly Minh Thang said that the visuals are built based on the idea of connecting the historical story with modern cinematic language, while fully incorporating the five elements in fine art and color design.
According to Huynh Lap, if Nha gia tien focuses on family affection, then Nghi he fears retirement will expand the message from family love to love for peace and country.
The film is scheduled to premiere from August 21, 2026, with early screenings from August 14 to 16.
