Restore Point

“It’s 9 o’clock. Have you backed up today yet?” On one hand, Blade Rubber stretches dialogues, is worn out in terms of ethical questions, and has a tired theme of a visionary evil corporation versus individuals with a sense of justice. On the other hand, there’s the sexy dimple on Andrea Mohylová’s chin. And there’s the audiovisual aspect that, by combining futurism with brutalism and modern development, adding bold loops, dressing up an Octavia and an old Citroën, creates a setting with a vision that can captivate with its small details (like Karel Dobrý’s pinky prosthesis). And if everyone who uses the phrase “by Czech standards” in a review added a hundred crowns to the budget, it would look even better. (02/06/2024)

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)

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)

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)