Robert Hloz’s Restore Point @TADFF 2023

Director Robert Hloz’s Restore Point has to be one of the more impressive installments in the science fiction genre. Set in the not-too-distant future, the society in Restore Point reaps the benefits of its infrastructure and technology. It’s not a doom and gloom scenario similar to Blade Runner: 2049 where the fires are burning. The technology is sophisticated and the environment is sustainable and working in unison as we see from the beginning of the film.

The story is set in Central Europe in 2014 where economic inequality spikes the amount of crime. This includes the number of deaths. But in this society, the average citizen is revived after being murdered. It’s their constitutional right if it is not an unnatural death to come back to life. This technology is Restore Point which allows for this cellular regeneration to happen where a person can be revived after death.

There is opposition to what is happening especially when it comes to reviving people who have been murdered. There is a group of terrorists called The River of Life who oppose these scientists who are playing god by reviving the deceased. David Kurlstat (Matěj Hádek) is the head researcher at the Pioneering Institute who turns up dead with his wife. The River of Life seems as though they are the group to blame. What is ironic about this whole situation is that this couple can not be recovered.

Blue Steel

Em Trochinowska played by Andrea Mohylovà investigates this case of the murdered couple and there are layers to unfold. Restoration Institute CEO Rohan (Karel Dobrý) does not cooperate fully with Em making it difficult for her to solve the case. In addition, there are many Europol agents who are pretty much getting in the way of the investigation. David does come back to life to be the only true sign of help to Em with the case along the way.

You must hand it to Robert Hloz’s vision of the future in Restore Point because it’s sensible. What we love about this dystopian future is that it is grounded as we discussed with him in an interview. It is slick and futuristic but just as unequal in the realms of politics, society and economics driven by technology.

As you see in this film there is progression in science and technology that allows humanity to change its natural course. Reviving those who have been murdered is much like the vision that Margaret Atwood envisioned in The Handmaid’s Tale. That nature is not taking its course but is rather being redirected. Sometimes redirection takes this future in a grim direction. But this future is finely crafted by director Robert Hloz and his team which one can only imagine from this point in time.