For years, I wondered why romance or comedy movies stopped working for me. “Why don’t they make it like before anymore?” Despite watching hundreds fitting the genre, none managed to make time stop or fully absorb me. But maybe that’s the difference between a movie and an experience—you live the latter.
“Eternity” is a 2025 fantasy romantic comedy film directed by David Freyne and starring Elizabeth Olsen, Miles Teller, and Callum Turner. The story centers on Joan, an elderly woman who, after her death, finds herself in an afterlife where every soul is given one week to choose where—and with whom—to spend eternity.
The start happens fast. We start with Larry in the afterlife, and things are happening with his life, and we might wonder why they are happening so fast, but as the movie progresses, it becomes clear that it’s not Larry’s story. It’s Joan’s. The film actually begins when she enters the afterlife.
There, Joan is faced with an emotional dilemma: she must choose between Larry, her devoted husband of 65 years, and Luke, her first love who died young during the Korean War and has waited for her in the afterlife for decades.
The movie shows her living a brief moment alone with both of them, until eventually, things unfold as they do. And they do work out like all romantic stories are supposed to work out. But there’s something about this movie, the way they have made it. It feels so raw and heartfelt to the core. I was unironically crying more than two-thirds of the way through the film. The conversations and self-reflections this film gives are why you need to sit in a dark room in front of the big screen and let it all sink in.
I’m not saying the film is free of problems, but I’d say this -Because it is made the way it is, the first thing you would feel after watching this movie isn’t going to be “Oh, I wish they had shown us more of Luke’s story…” But instead, you’d feel looking at your partner and tell them how much you love them and are grateful for their existence in your lives.
However, it’d have been more justified if we had actually seen why Joan didn’t give Luke a proper chance. Maybe he would’ve changed over time; it’s an eternity after all, and it’d have been a more adventurous afterlife for her? So, that was something that I do feel was a good point of conversation you’d have when you’re discussing this film.
The afterlife setting is imaginative, with unique “eternity worlds” and quirky Afterlife Coordinators who provide guidance and much comedic relief, especially Anna, who “loves chaos,” played brilliantly by Da’Vine Joy Randolph.
Elizabeth Olsen, Miles Teller, and Callum Turner nail their performances with the required charisma, sass, and seriousness needed for the story. They make the world feel authentic.
Speaking of the world being authentic, the production design is insane! It makes every set feel like a place you’d want to be. It’s very retro and iconic! Primarily, the archives are where memories are stored, and instead of a proper background and foreground, the objects in the scene are drawn shapes on cloth. Such extraordinary beauty in simplicity! Ruairí O’Brien’s cinematography further enhances this beauty.
The music and soundtrack further help stop time, making you fully immersed in the experience. David Fleming has done a tremendous job bringing this film’s score to life!
Pat Cunnane and David Freyne have poured their hearts into the soulful dialogue of “Eternity,” creating a script that deeply resonates with emotional truth. David Freyne’s direction elevates the film, capturing intimate moments with beautiful sincerity and striking a balance between humor and heartfelt drama. His vision brings the afterlife world to life vividly while keeping the story grounded in genuine human emotions, making the film both a thoughtful meditation on love and an immersive romantic comedy.
In conclusion, “Eternity” is more than a romantic comedy; it’s a poignant meditation on love, choice, and what we carry forward. Its blend of humor, heartfelt performances, and inventive world-building makes it an experience that lingers for a very long time. A rare film that touches the soul and invites reflection on what truly matters in relationships and life.
