Timeless Masterpiece: “Eternity” is a captivating film that depicts the authentic choices love forces people to make

Eternity.

The word itself is terrifying — lasting forever. 

So when I saw the romantic comedy movie, “Eternity,” released on Nov. 26, being advertised on the AMC Theaters website, I was intrigued by the short yet compelling title.  

After sitting through the almost two-hour movie, it was one of the best I’ve seen in 2025 alone.  

The movie revolves around the afterlife of Joan, played by Elizabeth Oslan, who had died of cancer at an old age. 

As soon as she closes her eyes and her life ends on Earth, she awakens on a train, taking her to a convention-like center, the Junction, where she must decide where she wants to spend her eternity. 

Although it was hard to piece together the moment from when Joan died to seeing her on the train, I appreciated the vulnerability Joan had to endure while coming to terms with her death.  

Upon Joan’s arrival, she meets her husband, Larry, played by Miles Teller, who had only died a week earlier.  

Both look younger, appearing at the age when they were happiest on Earth, which made the film much livelier than seeing an elderly couple throughout the entire film.

Unlike dragged-on movie sequels and overdone cliché romcoms that have taken over the film industry, the originality of how the afterlife worked — pick a destination that you must stay in forever — made the film captivating. 

To help them decide where to spend the afterlife, Joan and her husband were given an Afterlife Coordinator for a week to help aid their decision; consequently, Joan's Afterlife Coordinator happened to be her first husband’s.   

Luke, played by Callum Turner, had died 67 years earlier and had waited all those years for Joan, getting a job as a bartender at the hotel where people stay while deciding where to spend eternity.

The impossible decision between spending forever with Larry or Luke added a romantic twist to the film without overcomplicating the love triangle. 

The constant comparison of young love and lifelong partnership, although conflicting, helped Joan truly figure out what meant most to her in life and how to navigate her feelings for eternity. 

Although there were times I got annoyed by the constant back-and-forth between Joan and Larry, her ultimate choice had depth and didn't end like some romance movie where the guy easily wins over the girl — Joan had to fight for what she wanted.

“Eternity” captured love-altering narratives that could lead to devastation beyond what anyone, especially Joan, has felt on Earth.

The comedic relief provided by the Afterlife Coordinators, especially Anna, Larry's coordinator, added light-hearted moments amid the characters' grief over their past lives.   

And although I was dreading Joan having to choose between her past marriage and her present, her final decision was based on her experiences, not on what those around her pushed her to choose.

“Eternity” wasn't just some sappy movie about a girl choosing a man; it was about authentic, never-ending love and the sacrifices you have to make even after death — creating a creative and meaningful plot.