Young doctor, Robert Merivel, enters into King Charles II of England's service after saving the King's favorite spaniel. Merivel revels in debauched pleasure and popularity at court until the King arranges for him to wed Celia, a royal mistress who has fallen out of favor. The arranged marriage is to fool the King's favorite mistress, Barbara Castlemaine. Merivel is given an estate named Bidnold in Suffolk, and Celia is installed in a house in Kew where the king can secretly visit. Merivel lives a life of debauchery there, but also finds pleasure in restoring the house to its former beauty with assistance from Will Gates, who manages the estate. Matters become complicated when Merivel breaks the King's cardinal rule and falls in love with Celia. The King commissions artist Elias Finn to paint Celia's portrait. He tricks Merivel into revealing his romantic feelings for Celia, who does not return Merivel's affections. After discovering Merivel's romantic feelings for Celia, the King banishes him from court and back to his life as a physician.
Merivel rejoins his old friend, John Pearce, who now runs a Quakersanitarium. There, Merivel meets Katharine, a troubled young woman whose husband abandoned her after their daughter drowned. Merivel and Katharine become lovers. When Pearce contracts consumption, Merivel tends his dying friend. They discover that Katharine is pregnant with Merivel's child. After Pearce's death, Merivel and Katharine leave.
The pair returns to London just as the Great Plague has hit. Katharine gives birth to a daughter, Margaret, via Caesarean section, but dies from the procedure. Before her death, Merivel promises Katharine he will care for Margaret.
As the plague continues killing people, Merivel is compelled to do what he can as a physician. He leaves Margaret with a wet nurse, and goes into the city. He separates the sick from the well, who have all been quarantined together, and eases the suffering of the dying. When asked his name, Merivel says he is John Pearce, as a tribute to his friend. Under this misnomer and in disguise, Merivel is summoned to the palace. The King fears that Celia has contracted the plague. Merivel assures him that she has a treatable fever and is with child. Merivel realizes his life now is more rewarding and fulfilling than the one he left behind.
The court is notified that the city is ablaze. Merivel races back to save his infant daughter but is unable to find her. He falls through the burning floor and lands in a small row boat below. Unconscious, he floats on the river current away from the city. He awakens back at Bidnold, being cared for by Will Gates. As Merivel recuperates, he grieves his lost daughter. Soon after, the King and his entourage arrive. He has discovered the doctor's true identity and is impressed with the man that Merivel has become. With that, the King steps aside to reveal the nurse holding Margaret. For his courage and good work in treating plague victims, the King returns Bidnold to Merivel, promising it will never be taken away. The film ends with Merivel returning to London to establish a new hospital with the King's assistance.
Restoration won Academy Awards for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration for Eugenio Zanetti and Best Costume Design for James Acheson.[4] The film was also entered into the 46th Berlin International Film Festival.[5] According to the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 71% of critics have given the film a positive review based on 34 reviews, with an average rating of 6.3/10. The site's critics consensus reads, "Restoration spins an engaging period yarn out of its bestselling source material, brought to life through the efforts of an eclectic ensemble cast led by Robert Downey Jr."[6] At Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 66 out of 100 based on 16 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[7]
Peter Travers, in a favorable review for Rolling Stone, praised the film for its timely AIDS parable and described Ryan as miscast in the role of the troubled Katharine.[8] In her review for The New York Times, Janet Maslin wrote, "Restoration crams in more research and period detail than it can comfortably digest, but its story is not overwhelmed by such overkill".[9]
Rose Tremain, author of the novel on which the film was based, said of the film that it had a beautiful texture to it. She was however disappointed with the film's storytelling, and said the story has no logic and so does not move the audience. The disappointment led her to take up scriptwriting herself.[10][11]
Soundtrack
Restoration: Music From The Miramax Motion Picture Soundtrack
