Professional Fangirl- Katelyn Benschoter

When you read a synopsis of a movie while shuffling through streaming platforms you will come across films with absurd plots. I found myself in this position when I was reading the description of the 2025 film Eternity. The film’s description is as follows: “When Joan dies she finds herself in an afterlife where souls have one week to choose where they want to spend eternity. She is faced with the impossible decision when she finds that both her first husband who died young Luke, and her long term husband Larry who she had children with are there. She must pick between them who she wants to spend eternity with.” I had heard excellent things about the film, but that does not excuse the fact that the plot does seem a bit ridiculous. I anticipated enjoying the film on a surface level, but did not expect to care or really think about the film after I watched it. I was very wrong—I thoroughly enjoyed the film and have continued to think about the themes and the fresh ideas portrayed.

Before diving into the greater themes and ideas of the film, the basics must first be covered. To start, the cast is incredible. The case primarily consisted of three characters: Joan, played by Elizabeth Olsen, also known as The Scarlet Witch from WandaVision. The two competing men are played by Miles Teller and Callum Turner. The three actors all have amazing chemistry and fit together perfectly. I expected this film to be very campy and a bit ridiculous based on the plot description and the color palette I saw in the advertisements. While there were many comedic and lighthearted moments in the film, there were also very emotional and complex feelings these actors had to portray. They all did a great job with this and really captivated me. In particular, Elizabeth Olsen as Joan was a real standout character for me. She was both very charming and real, and I could not imagine having to make the decision that she was faced with. 

Additionally, as I mentioned earlier, the film’s color palette and mise-en-scène were excellent. It was bright and colorful in a way that made the film feel nostalgic. In many modern films, there is a lack of color, and while the films can still be objectively good, they are just less interesting to the eye. I enjoyed everything visually about this film—from the costuming to the sets, it was all perfect. Even if I did not enjoy the film’s plot, this would have been something I remembered about this film.

Now, to get into the genius of the film, the many twists and turns that this film took. Quickly into this film, I felt that I had caught on to the plot and knew exactly where this was going. The woman is faced with picking between two men she loves and chooses to pick herself instead. I was not mad at this plot, and think the idea is good, but expected. This is not what happens in the film. That being said, the film repeatedly leads the audience to think that she is going to pick Luke, or herself, or Larry, and you truly do not know what she decides until the very end. I really appreciated that in a world of remakes and film adaptations, this film somehow felt fresh. This could have followed a similar plot of many love triangle films, but it did not. The theme was not something expected, like “choose yourself”, but rather a wider idea of accepting the present and being happy with the life you have.

Without going into depth about the film’s ending, the film explores this idea of the perfect life. Joan is faced with picking where she wants to live for all of eternity. There are hundreds of options from the beach world, wall street world, studio 54 world, etc. Humans spend a lot of time thinking about how their lives could be better and longing for a utopian world that does not exist. We are always finding ways to indulge in a more luxurious life and there always seem to be new ways to live a better life. Therefore, we do not spend a lot of time simply soaking up what we do have. Even if that is bickering in the car with your husband over the radio station. We always want more, until we are gone. And that is ultimately what the film is getting at. In a world of trends, influencers, and new ways to look younger, simply take a breath and enjoy the present. That is what Joan learns. 
Overall, Eternity exceeded my expectations. At first glance, what seemed like a wacky and campy film honestly left me quite emotional and reflective. Romance films traditionally focus on finding the one and needing to find a partner to be complete. Eternity argues something quite different. It does not argue you need a partner; it argues that you do not need a grand love story. Rather than the small memories, such as lying in bed together or even arguing over what to have for dinner is what makes love special.