« Eternity » is now in theaters and, like much of Elizabeth Olsen’s work in recent years, death is a large element of the film.
“Eternity” is now in theaters and, like much of Elizabeth Olsen’s work in recent years, death is a large element of the film. But don’t worry, it’s by no means a sad story. For the actress herself, it was actually quite comforting — especially as it reflected just how all-consuming real-world capitalism has become.
Directed by David Freyne, “Eternity” sees Olsen star as Joan. She recently lost her husband Larry (Miles Teller) to an unfortunate pretzel incident, and reunites with him at the Afterlife Junction to cross over. The problem is, Joan’s first husband Luke (Callum Turner) is there too, and has been waiting for her for 60 years.
Now, Joan must choose to spend her afterlife with: the man she built a real life with, or her first love, who died in Korea fighting for his country, and whom she never got to have a real shot at life with.
There are plenty of laughs to be had — with additional comedy brought in by cast members Da’Vine Joy Randolph and John Early — and the humor specifically was something that piqued Olsen’s interest.
“The cleverness of the humor was something I really loved,” she told TheWrap. “It felt like a timeless story that could have been made — especially told in this kind of screwball comedy way — that could have been told within many different generations. But I do think David created such contemporary humor.”
Joan and her paramour also have to choose which eternity to live in, and there are countless options, from a world with no men, to an eternity on the beach and more. There are so many that the lobby of the station is bursting with salespeople, trying to sway newly departed souls.
“Even the afterlife itself felt incredibly contemporary and reflective of where we are as a culture today, where we are just consumers in a capitalist world,” Olsen said.
