Restore Point

This was good. Czech film sci-fi no longer has to feel like cheap TV entertainment or co-productions with friendly socialist countries (today's co-productions are freer, not an ideological choice). Recovery Point is undoubtedly an exceptional project, a solid detective story from the year 2041. The near future is built around the possibility of backing up humanity, which is a game changer. The lead male roles are played by classic faces of Karel Dobrý, Matěj Hádek, and Václav Neužil ml., while the actresses are new: Andrea Mohylová and Agáta Kryštůfková, and it will probably be a joy to watch what they do next. (09/20/2023)

I told myself I wouldn't give Restore Point a thumbs up just because it's a Czech film, and so I'm giving it an average rating, but I also encourage everyone to go to the cinema and support a commendably different domestic film that we don't have to be ashamed of. The main problem with Restore Point, in my opinion, is the story, which piles one tired cliché on top of another, is either overwrought or, on the contrary, raises unnecessary questions... And it lasts almost two hours, which is really too much. Although I wouldn't go see it again, I certainly don't regret the money I spent on the ticket and I look forward to seeing what Robert Hloz makes next. (09/23/2023)

The visuals are top-notch, not only for a Czech film, but on a world scale. The shots of the futuristic Prague must warm the heart of every Czech. Awesome cinematography by Filip Marek, plus a dramatic score that mimics a weaker Zimmer, and a pretty decent story that makes sense and is coherent. Unfortunately, though, to its detriment, the film is overcomplicated, terribly talky and doesn't bring much that's revolutionary, plus the twists are like from a film school. It’s like a crime TV-show but set in the future. The uneven cast and the little action show the limits that should be the focus for next time. Robert Hloz, however, did an incredible job and hats off to him for making it. Ironically, the "terrorists" were the most interesting. (01/27/2024)

In terms of production design, special effects and the depiction of the atmosphere and functioning of its world, Restore Point is definitely one of the most remarkable achievements in the field of Czech cinema in recent years. It's a shame, however, that all this is undermined by a rather generic plot and a half-baked screenplay, which, when you strip away the visual trappings, offers nothing more than a banal TV-style crime drama, plus variations on motifs you've seen in other, often better films (Minority Report comes to mind). I appreciate the effort, but it could have been much more polished. [KVIFF 2023] (07/08/2023)

If I were to write a review of Restore Point, the numerical rating would be average, maybe slightly above average, and might discourage someone from going to the cinema. That would be a huge mistake and, more importantly, something I wouldn't really want. This little attempt at Czech sci-fi that blew our minds with its trailer definitely has a lot to offer, and actually I'm still processing the fact that even in this country you can make a film that looks so good on a relatively modest budget. I'm not just talking about the quality of the effects, but about the production design, the work of the architect and the ability to learn what's right from foreign models and use it in a Czech film. To a certain extent, Restore Point is exactly the kind of film we were hoping for and shows that excuses like "we can't do it here" are really just excuses. Unfortunately, however, all those stunning visuals are not accompanied by a very interesting story. Restore Point is basically a whodunit, but unfortunately it's rather banal and boring, because it works with a minimum of characters and let's say that when Karel Dobrý is in a movie (and he does a good job), you somehow expect that he won't turn out to be a good person. As a crime drama, it eventually holds up with some effort, and there are some interesting solutions in the character work, but compared to the audiovisual aspect, the overall mediocrity and unattractiveness of the plot is almost distracting. I certainly didn't leave the cinema thinking I got ripped-off, though I'd be bullshitting if I said I didn't hope for better. Much better, actually. But for the sheer audacity to try the sci-fi genre here, and for how great Restore Point looks, its creators deserve your time and money for two hours. And then you can hope with me that next time it'll all go great. (07/04/2023)