Eterne

'Eterne’ is a love letter inspired by those who lost someone throughout the pandemic or to a fatal disease. It looks at loneliness, the experience of grief, and the mental health of a person who struggles to speak about the difficulty they are going through internally.

We follow a morning in the life of John (Pat Mooney) at 85 years old, having lost the love of his life, Mary (Helena Bereen), a week ago. They met at 15 years old, and she was the beating heart of the home. Throughout the film, we experience the quiet of a house once blossoming with life and the small moments that can trigger tidal waves of grief. We explore how John experiences these memories alone and how he tries to process them.

The colour palette is dull as John wanders the house; he moves past trinkets and memories, reflecting upon them as life fills the scenes with warm tones and dialogue between him and Mary. Heartfelt music is played every time a memory flickers by, and this deepens with dread as John experiences both sadness and panic simultaneously.

It is impossible not to feel the emotion packed into this film. Through a short run time, it captures the grief and isolation through loss. How simple things in your routine can change abruptly, missing the ones you love. From an empty place in bed to needing help on a crossword, simple things yet where you miss their presence the most. It’s deeply rooted in everything you do, think, and feel. A house becoming a ghostly shell to what it once was.

This film is inspired by true events. On a heavy day in October 2021, at 91 years old, both her grandparents got Covid and sadly her Grandma Bessie passed away. This left Ian to have to completely recalibrate his life without his focal point. It was said they had a ‘Romeo and Juliet’ type romance. Meeting just off the school bus, from opposite sides of the town and rival families who did not approve of the match. Their wedding rivalled a royal wedding; the town square was packed with well-wishers. A total of 76 years together, 3 children, 18 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. They had an extraordinary love and a wonderful life that would be reminisced about across generations.

We explore the aftermath of such a sacred kind of love. After a life together, after well-wishers stop calling, after sound and structure and familial chaos. What is the new normal for John? When it feels like the ground under your feet is crumbling and you can’t quite steady yourself. We feel a sense of relief for John when Hannah visits (Eleanor Shannon). Overwhelmed by emotions and terror, John can breathe again, a sense of relief when a familiar and nurturing face comforts him in his darkest moments. It’s especially fitting within that generation and how they often don’t open up, just to suffer in silence. It gets us to reflect and appreciate how precious life is, how our support system can help calm the storm.

Overall, the film is shot well, although only set in one house, it explores the isolation across such a vast space. It utilises the rooms to tell a story and conjure up John’s fondest memories. The set dressing and props act as a device to delve into pivotal moments between John and Mary. They act as a peephole into their life and evoke a sense of vulnerability and relatability between audiences and characters. Grief is most prominent in the silence and both the music and colour palettes portray that effectively.

Pat Mooney’s performance is heart-wrenching, and the film is especially moving as it was his last project before his unfortunate passing a month ago. He was an incredibly talented actor and, most notably, a kind man to those surrounding him. This performance is a true testament to his love of the craft and how he can tell such an important story just by his captivating presence. A project everyone should watch to deepen their understanding and perspective on such a significant topic. Mooney’s work will forever live on through his remarkable legacy.