Elizabeth Olsen on Death and the Afterlife
At the premiere of Eternity, Elizabeth Olsen shared personal reflections on death and solitude. The film, a romantic dramedy from A24, explores themes of love and eternity, starring Olsen alongside Miles Teller.
Plot and Premise
In the movie, Olsen portrays a woman who has passed away and must choose where and with whom to spend eternity: her first husband, who died in the Korean War, or her second husband, with whom she shared over 60 years of marriage.
Olsen’s Personal Vision of Death
Olsen revealed she has often imagined her own death and what life might be like afterward. Since high school, she pictured herself as an elderly woman living alone on England's coast, surrounded by a small community.
“I dreamt of being a very old lady on the coast of England, alone actually. I might have had an animal, and it would be like foggy and wet and kind of cold, and I would go on long walks and I would be in a small town that had like one of each thing you need like one bakery, one coffee shop, one fishmonger, one cheese shop, one community center, one theater. It was always just me because I like meeting new people and I like being a part of a community, and I always imagined I would die alone.”
When asked about being alone, she admitted with a laugh, “I don’t know what to do with that, but that was part of my dream.”
Miles Teller’s Thoughts on Afterlife
Co-star Miles Teller expressed hope that after death he would reunite with friends and family members he never met. He also emphasized a desire to keep the afterlife simple.
Key Themes
- Contemplation of mortality and afterlife choices
- Loneliness and community
- Personal visions of aging and death
- Reunion with lost loved ones
Author’s summary: Elizabeth Olsen reflects on her imagined solitary death and the film’s exploration of choosing where and with whom to spend eternity, underscoring themes of love, loss, and community.