Restart

Colour, 35 mm
Czech Republic, Finland, 2005, 85 min
Section: Czech Films 2005-2006

Synopsis

It’s April 1st and Sylvie can’t resist playing an April fool’s joke on her boyfriend Martin. But a few ill-considered words might just have changed her life forever. Martin leaves her, and the crestfallen young woman searches for him everywhere, overcoming one pitfall after another, hoping that she will be able to save their relationship. She has no idea that she is heading for a fatal collision… The subjective narration condenses the hectic day’s events and poses the suggestive question: Have you ever wanted to start over? Restart is a modern, visually dynamic film focusing on adherents of Prague’s club culture who, night after night, surround themselves with loud music, alcohol and a succession of new partners. A film about seemingly carefree, yet also fragile, vulnerable and lonely individuals. The work of debuting director Julius Ševčík and Finnish cameraman Kasimir Lehto.

About the director

Julius Ševčík (b. 1978, Prague) studied at the New York Film Academy (NYFA) in the years 1997–98, where he attracted attention with his four-minute black-and-white film The Spiral (Spirála, 1997), which he wrote, directed, edited and also shot. In the years 1999–2005 he directed various commercials and short films. He completed his directing course at FAMU with the feature-length film Restart (2005). His medium-length college film 51 Kilohertz (2003) won awards at various foreign festivals (Rome, Rio de Janeiro, Clermont-Ferrand).