Cao Minh portrays Thoi, the grandfather of lead character Tri Binh (Cody Nam Vo). Thoi is a veteran who lost one leg during combat and suffers psychological trauma from witnessing his comrades' sacrifices.

Actor Cao Minh as a veteran in the film "Summer Break Fears Retirement". *Photo: Film crew*

Taking on his first lead role in a feature film, Cao Minh meticulously considered his acting approach, given Thoi's complex psychological scenes. At home, he practiced walking and living with one leg to better embody the character on set. "Every day, after finishing a scene, I couldn't fully detach from the role; I strived to maintain the character's consistent personality for the next day," Cao Minh stated.

One of the most challenging sequences involved Thoi and his grandson being swept away by a strong current at night, facing imminent death. Director Huynh Lap filmed this scene at two locations: a canal and a swimming pool, allowing the crew to capture close-up shots. Cao Minh and Cody Nam Vo were submerged in water for over 10 hours over two consecutive nights, needing to maintain their characters' emotional intensity throughout the ordeal.

Actor Cao Minh discusses his process of embodying a veteran at the 13/8 premiere. *Video: Mai Nhat*

Huynh Lap expressed concern before filming that the hazardous scene might impact the veteran actor's health. During shooting, Cao Minh's face showed fatigue from prolonged exposure to water, yet he maintained the pace for the film crew. The production team initially suggested stunt doubles to alleviate the actors' burden, but both Cao Minh and Cody Nam Vo insisted on performing the scene themselves to preserve the emotional continuity.

'Summer Break Fears Retirement' is a psychological-family drama exploring intergenerational conflict. The story centers on Binh (Cody Nam Vo), a young man driven to start a business by the question, "What if my whole life isn't brilliant?". Upon visiting his hometown, he encounters friction due to a generation gap with his grandfather, Thoi (Cao Minh), a strict, disciplined veteran.

Director Huynh Lap revealed he conceived the script's idea during a visit to a martyrs' cemetery in Con Dao. Alongside named graves, he felt sorrow seeing many unidentified burial sites. After completing the film 'Nha gia tien' in 2025, he began writing this new story, finishing it in six months.

Cao Minh, a singer and actor originally from Tay Ninh (formerly Long An), is renowned for his rich, resonant tenor voice. He achieved recognition through songs like 'Tieu doan 307', 'Ho Chi Minh dep nhat ten Nguoi', and 'Doi mat nguoi Son Tay'. In 1978, he won first prize in the Tay Ninh Provincial Television Singing Contest. In 1988, while a vocal student at the Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music, he secured first prize in the first National Concour for chamber music, earning titles such as "Best Singer on President Ho Chi Minh" and "Best Folk Singer".

His acting credits include the 2004 television series 'Ngon nen hoang cung', which depicted the life of Emperor Bao Dai. In 2025, he will portray Uncle Sau, a revolutionary cadre, in director Bui Thac Chuyen's film 'Dia dao - Mat troi trong bong toi'.

Huynh Lap recounts the process of inviting actor Cao Minh to join the film. *Video: Film crew*

Mai Nhat