Making its world premiere at the Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival on October 24, Up Again centers on Barbora Vránková during a crucial three-year period, from age 15 to 18. Viewers will follow Vránková as she trains daily among Europe’s top skaters in Italy, relentlessly pursuing her dream of becoming a European or even world champion. However, the film delves deeper than mere competition, exploring the profound impact of a system where, as a film synopsis highlights, “Barbora is growing up in a world where a person’s worth is measured by performance, scores and rankings.”

This intense environment inevitably leads to a crisis, culminating in Vránková's withdrawal shortly before her first European Championships—an event she had dedicated her entire life to preparing for. The Hollywood Reporter recently offered an exclusive first look at the film's trailer, teasing the raw emotion and demanding physicality involved in the sport.

Director and composer Eliška Andršová Cílková brings a unique perspective to Up Again, having been involved in figure skating since her own teenage years. This personal connection informed her approach, moving beyond mere results to capture the intrinsic realities of elite athleticism. “More than Barbora’s results, we were interested in what the world of elite sport looks like from the inside,” Cílková shared, emphasizing her desire to portray its daily rhythm, inherent beauty, and immense pressures.

Cílková’s directorial vision extends to the film's unique cinematography. To achieve a truly immersive experience, parts of Up Again were shot directly on skates, allowing the crew to share the ice with Vránková during training sessions. This innovative technique aims to visually and sonically distinguish the documentary from conventional sports broadcasting, offering an unprecedented perspective on the struggle against gravity and the scraping of blades on ice.

Following its festival debut, Up Again is slated for a theatrical release in Czech cinemas on October 29, distributed by Pilot Film and nutprodukce. For audiences across Europe, the documentary will become available to stream on HBO Max starting December 4. The film is a co-production of nutprodukce, HBO Europe, and FAMU in Prague, supported by the Czech Audiovisual Fund and Creative Europe MEDIA.