‘Eternity’ – Review
There’s nothing quite like an end-of-year romantic comedy to wrap you up in all the feels, and when A24 is steering the ship, you know you’re in for something truly heartfelt. Eternity is exactly that: a film that’s warm, tender, emotionally rich and overflowing with love in all its forms. It’s funny, it’s moving, it’s thoughtful, and it settles over you like a blanket on a cool December night. With the Christmas season in full swing, it’s the perfect story to get lost in.
Set in an afterlife waystation where souls have one week to choose where they will spend eternity, Eternity follows Joan (Elizabeth Olsen), who suddenly finds herself standing between two great loves of her life. Larry (Miles Teller), the man she built 67 years of life, marriage, memories and quiet devotion with… and Luke (Callum Turner), her first love, the beautiful spark of her youth, who died young and has waited decades for her to return to him. I
Director David Freyne and screenwriter Pat Cunnane take what could have been a quirky afterlife rom-com and turn it into something soul-stirring. They twist the genre, yes; but they do it gently, with deep affection for the characters, and with a sincerity that hits you right in the heart. When Joan and Larry arrive in the afterlife, reborn into the ages they felt most themselves, they’re told to choose their Eternity: a personal haven where they’ll spend forever. It’s whimsical and surreal, but beneath the fantasy lies something beautifully human. And then Joan sees Luke again.
In that moment, Eternity blooms into something far more delicate and profound. The film becomes a meditation on long love versus young love; on memory, identity, resilience, sacrifice, and how we love differently at different stages of our lives. Joan must choose between the intoxicating, blissful romance of youth that she shared with Turner’s bright-eyed Luke… or the steady, ordinary, deeply rooted love she shared with Larry over a lifetime.
The beauty of the film lies in its compassion. It never judges Joan. It never favours one love as more “correct” than the other. It simply presents love in all its forms, raw, messy, joyful, imperfect, and trusts the audience to feel their way through it.
Elizabeth Olsen is extraordinary here, delivering a performance full of warmth, longing, confusion and emotional grace. Miles Teller brings a quiet, lived-in affection to Larry; he is the comfort of a well-worn sweater, familiar and flawed but sincere. Callum Turner is the glow of first love, all hope and promise. Together, the trio creates a romantic dynamic filled with fragile honesty, vulnerability and genuine affection. Their chemistry elevates the film’s tension in the gentlest way, not dramatic fireworks, but something far more intimate: the ache of choosing between two truths.
Adding even more heart is Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Anna, Larry’s afterlife coordinator. Her scenes are warm, soulful and full of grounded wisdom. She becomes the emotional compass of the film, offering the characters and the audience moments of clarity and connection. Her presence enriches the film’s heartfelt themes with a soft touch that lingers long after the credits roll.
With its tender message, whimsical world, emotional depth and a perfect blend of humour and quiet sincerity, Eternity feels like a warm embrace. It’s the kind of film that sneaks up on you, settles into your chest and stays there. A love story about what we carry with us, what we let go of, and how we honour the people who shaped our hearts, Eternity asks big questions, but answers them with softness.
If you’re searching for something warm, meaningful, and deeply human this holiday season, Eternity is a beautiful place to start.
Image: A24 Films
