When it comes to tackling sci-fi you do so at your own peril and for Robert Hloz’s, Restore Point, it is stylistically bold but falls victim to its own complicated ideas.
Part of the Czech, Please! strand this year at the Glasgow Film Festival it showcases a variety of Czech cinema and includes a diverse range of films. In what is its Scottish Premiere, Restore Point appears in the line-up as a sci-fi crime thriller set in 2041 in a society where unnatural deaths can be remedied.
You instantly get Blade Runner vibes with its aesthetics and it is visually impressive with small details making a big difference. Some shots of a sprawling skyline with distinct futuristic buildings look great and helps to immerse you in this world.
The social commentary throughout is particular relevant especially the notion of society’s ever-increasing reliance on technology. It touches on how the media reports on violence and its overall influence.
Its central idea of new technology that allows you to create a biometric backup of yourself in the event of your untimely, unnatural, death is fascinating. The story follows Detective Trochinowska (Andrea Mohylovà) who is investigating the murder of David Kurlstat (Matej Hádek) – a developer of this technology – and his wife.
All amidst a backdrop of the corporation who created the technology battling against anti-restoration terrorist group as well as trying to stave-off a public relations disaster.
This aspect of the film feels all too familiar, a tired trope we have seen countless times before. Sinister business executives doing all they can to protect the company and themselves – think OCP in Paul Verhoeven’s classic RoboCop.
Andrea Mohylovà in the lead role is stoic and has a natural screen presence that keeps your attention – easily one of the highlights of the film. She is absolutely vital and important especially when the film begins to falter as events unfold.
The story verges into becoming convoluted and it all feels a little too ambitious in its efforts to explore its sci-fi elements, social commentary and then the love component of it all.
With all of these different parts it drives the runtime of Restore Point to 1hr 51 minutes and you begin to feel it. Some scenes feel drawn-out, some perhaps could have been left on the editing floor altogether.
Keeping it simple is what is missing and it is a shame as it has a lot of potential.
