Get ready for a double feature that will tug at your heartstrings and make you ponder the big questions! We're diving into two films, Eternity and Left-Handed Girl, each offering unique perspectives on love, loss, and the complexities of life. Let's unpack these cinematic gems, shall we?
Eternity: A Heavenly Romp with a Twist
Eternity is a 114-minute whirlwind that opens on December 11th, and it's earned a solid ★★★★☆ rating. The premise? Joan (played by Elizabeth Olsen) finds herself in a celestial waiting room after her passing. Here's the catch: she has a week to choose between her two late husbands for her journey into eternity. Talk about a tough decision!
Will she choose Larry (Miles Teller), her husband of 65 years, who unfortunately choked on a pretzel just days before her? Or will she opt for Luke (Callum Turner), who has been patiently awaiting their reunion since his untimely death during the Korean War in the 1950s?
This afterlife scenario is a bureaucratic amusement park, reminiscent of the comedy Defending Your Life (1991). "The Juncture" is a tourism expo with booths advertising destinations like Beach World and Capitalist World. But here's where it gets controversial: Man-Free World is, sadly, sold out.
Irish director David Freyne delivers an imaginative world. The performances are lively, with the actors playing their 30-something selves. Olsen shines with the star quality of Hollywood's Golden Age comediennes. The competing husbands bicker while Joan grapples with her impossible choice. Is it the comfort of a lifelong connection or the excitement of a youthful passion?
Da’Vine Joy Randolph and John Early, as the Afterlife Coordinators, add humor, advocating for Joan's happiness. Eternity is a sweet and sincere classic screwball romance with a heavenly twist.
Left-Handed Girl: Family Drama Gets it Right
Now, let's switch gears to Left-Handed Girl, a 108-minute film available on Netflix, boasting a ★★★☆☆ rating. This Taiwanese drama follows single mother Shu-Fen (Janel Tsai) and her daughters as they return to Taipei from the countryside. They navigate family tensions and patriarchal traditions while rebuilding their lives.
This film, Taiwan's submission for the 2026 Academy Awards' Best International Feature Film, premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. It's the solo directing debut of New York-based Taiwan native Tsou Shih-ching, who has a history with American indie filmmaker Sean Baker. Baker co-wrote, edited, and produced the film, continuing their exploration of society's marginalized.
Shu-Fen struggles to make ends meet, having spent her savings on her former husband's funeral. Her elder daughter, I-Ann (Ma Shih-yuan), is a rebellious young woman. Meanwhile, I-Jing (Nina Ye), the six-year-old, faces superstition from her grandfather (Akio Chen).
And this is the part most people miss: The film is shot on an iPhone, mirroring Baker's style. The unruly energy of Taipei pulsates with the characters' struggles. The story unfolds through I-Jing's innocent perspective, turning the adult world into an adventure.
Left-Handed Girl is an intimate drama, a homecoming for the director, alive with its places and people.
What are your thoughts? Do you prefer the heavenly romance of Eternity or the grounded family drama of Left-Handed Girl? Share your opinions in the comments!
