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The question of what lies in store for us when we die is one that has plagued academics for centuries. And while some believe that there really is an afterlife that awaits us on the other side, there are plenty of others who insist that death is truly the be-all and end-all of our existence. No matter what you believe, however, there's no shortage of films exploring those possibilities, from comedies like Heaven Can Wait to poignant dramas like What Dreams May Come. And with Eternity, director David Freyne is putting a new twist on the theme, in this story about a woman who must make an impossible decision — which one of the two loves of her life she wants to spend her afterlife with. Joan and Larry Cutler are an elderly married couple on their way to one of their children's gender reveal party. But when Larry unexpectedly dies after choking on a pretzel and Joan passes away seven days later from cancer, they'll find themselves restored to their younger selves (Elizabeth Olsen and Miles Teller) and unexpectedly reunited in the Junction, a place where recently deceased souls go before moving on to eternity. Debriefed on the situation by their sassy Afterlife Coordinators Anna (Da'Vine Joy Randolph) and Ryan (John Early), Joan and Larry must each decide which of the many all-inclusive-vacation-like eternities — with such gimmicky names as Beach World, Mountain World and Museum World — they'd like to spend their forever in. For Joan, however, the decision is made much more difficult by the fact that her first husband, Luke (Callum Turner), has been waiting 67 years for her to show up. And now that she's here, he can't wait to spend his eternity with her. A soldier who died in the Korean War, Luke has been biding his time as a bartender in the Junction. But despite his good looks and seemingly perfect personality, will Joan choose him over then man she’s been married to for 65 years? Humorous and touching, what follows can often feel like an afterlife version of The Bachelorette, as Larry and Luke both vie for Joan's affections, while Joan is afforded the opportunity to go on dates with each of them in their respective eternities. As silly as that premise might sound, though, this high-concept comedy drama is, at its core, more of a meditation on the nature and meaning of true love. Suffice to say, Eternity makes for a great date night movie. But if you're seeking substance, it also has plenty to satisfy the soul. |
Eternity screens under the Gala programme at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. Its runtime is 1 hr. 53 min.
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