Eternity — Review
Source: A24
David Freyne’s Eternity is one of the most creative and thought-provoking romance films in recent memory. It boasts an inventive premise involving the afterlife that feels evocative of films such as Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s A Matter of Life and Death (1946), Albert Brooks’ Defending Your Life (1991), and Hirokazu Kore-eda’s After Life (1998), yet Freyne and co-writer Pat Cunnane’s screenplay still feels refreshingly original.
In this version of the afterlife, when someone dies, they wake up on a train as the version of themselves they were when they were at their happiest, which is why, when Larry (Barry Primus) passes away, he awakens as a much younger version of himself, played by Miles Teller. The train brings passengers to the Junction Hotel. There, each person’s assigned AC (Afterlife Coordinator) explains that they have one week to decide where they want to spend eternity. Choosing an eternity is a permanent decision, and they are not permitted to go back or switch after the fact.
The premise lends itself beautifully to some elaborate world-building and intricate production design. The Junction Hotel resembles a trade show with booths advertising all the possible eternities patrons can pick from, whether it’s Surf World, Workout World, or even Man Free World. Eternity is the type of film worth watching more than once, simply to catch all the background details and humorous advertisements for the various eternities.
Source: A24
The film’s central conflict is that, in the afterlife, Joan (Elizabeth Olsen) is reunited with her first husband, Luke (Callum Turner), who died in the war and has waited 67 years for her. While everyone only has one week to decide where to spend eternity, a few people opt instead to work at the Junction Hotel, which is how Luke is able to wait for Joan, who dies shortly after her husband Larry.
Thus, Joan must choose between spending eternity with her first love, with whom she never got a chance to build a proper life, or her second husband, with whom she had a family and devoted decades of her life. It would be a much easier decision if Luke weren’t so sweet, charismatic, and “perfect,” but it’s hard not to feel charmed by him and the grand romantic gesture of waiting for the love of his life for all those years. For anyone who has ever faced the heartache of loss, a missed connection, or wondered what if, or wished for a second chance, Joan’s predicament is an understandably challenging one.
However, anyone who’s experienced enough long-term relationships to truly understand what makes one work will perceive almost immediately that there is a blatantly correct choice Joan should make. Because of this, Eternity unfolds exactly as I expected it to (with the exception of one minor detail). Nonetheless, this film is proof that a movie does not need to be full of twists or surprises. Knowing precisely where the film is headed did not hinder my enjoyment in the slightest. It’s easy to become emotionally invested in Joan, Luke, and Larry, as well as the supporting characters, including Larry’s AC, Anna (Da'Vine Joy Randolph), and Joan's AC, Ryan (John Early). Both Randolph and Early possess impeccable comedic timing, filling the film with plenty of laughs.
Souce: A24
The complex dynamic between Joan, Larry, and Luke evokes classic screwball comedies. While love triangles are a fairly common theme in romance films, especially as of late, Eternity feels fresh for the way it utilizes the fantasy genre to present such a unique and novel dilemma. Many common beliefs about romance are tied to the idea of finding your “one true love” or the notion that “when you know, you know,” but love is rarely that simple. Many people fall in love more than once in their lifetime. Many widows and widowers eventually remarry. But most people are never put in a situation where they have to choose between their first and second love, and that’s what makes Eternity’s story so compelling. The three lead performances are strong and thoroughly convincing; you can feel the depth of Joan's affection for both men and the overwhelming sense of difficulty in making this decision.
David Fleming’s score is lovely, and Ruairí O'Brien’s cinematography is rich and colorful. Between the vibrant cinematography and the fun production design, Eternity constructs a world—or, in this case, an afterlife—that feels bright and cheerful despite dealing with the darkness of death, which provides a contrast that enhances the film’s emotional warmth. In recent years, many movies have featured drab color palettes and dim lighting, so seeing a film embrace bright lighting and colorfulness for a change is very much appreciated.
Eternity is an inventive, high-concept romance film with clever and humorous world-building, delightfully colorful visuals, and a resonant emotional core. It offers a simple and rudimentary message about relationships, but it’s a vital lesson that many still need to learn; therefore, it’s one that’s still worth exploring on screen. Regardless of how predictable the narrative is, the outcome is emotionally satisfying, and the journey it takes to get there remains enthralling and enjoyable to watch, with consistent laughs and a few tear-jerking moments. Ultimately, Eternity is a whimsical, nostalgic reminder that movies can still be creative, colorful, and sweep a crowd off their feet.
Eternity hits theaters on November 26, 2025.
