Next Life (2026) – Review and Summary | Tribeca Film Festival

Next Life explores two scenarios and reminds you that there may not be missed chances in life or love, just a different set of decisions you would have made.

ByAmari Allah Hours Posted on

Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.

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“Next Life” Film Details

Movie Summary

One moment splits Ivy’s life in two. Spilling coffee on a jazz musician named Diego determines whether a meet-cute evolves into a love affair or if she gives her ex, Noah, another chance. Both routes lead to heartache, romance, lots of music, and a series of decisions that are hard to say if they were mistakes or, in the end, all the right decisions.

Cast and Characters

Ivy (Emilia Clarke)

  • Character Summary: Ivy was formerly a singer whose career didn’t get much traction. But, unlike a lot of music artists you see in movies, she is more than capable of holding a 9-to-5 without complaining and is even trusted enough to be a godmother. But, while easily able to pivot and handle her professional life and certain aspects of her personal life, she struggles with relationships. That has long been a doozy, and even where she is now in life, she just hopes for the best.

Diego (Edgar Ramírez)

  • Character Summary: Diego is a professional jazz musician with two kids and a good relationship with his ex. He is highly invested in Ivy pursuing her dream, to the point of helping her make contacts. But, insecurities and rushing a bit into a relationship do make it seem their foundation may not have been strong enough for all he is trying to quickly build.

Noah (Jack Farthing)

  • Character Summary: Noah is a man in finance who used to be Ivy’s boss. He is now, depending on the storyline, her ex, who realizes he made a mistake, or the man she may one day have children with.

Review and Commentary

Highlight(s)

The Music [81.5/100]

If you’ve seen Emilia Clarke in Last Christmas, then you know she is a capable singer; she can carry a tune. But rather than do just one song, she sings throughout. It’s all jazz and notably relaxing, but as her character is unsure of herself, you get Clarke’s signature bashfulness, which allows her charm to shine through.

As for the music selection? There are some standards like “I’ll Be Seeing You,” a reimagined version of “Feeling Good,” and what might be original music. It all just presents the idea that they wanted to show who Ivy was or is, rather than simply talk about who she was or wants to be over and over.

Not Better, Just Different [83/100]

It’s easy to imagine that Noah and Diego’s Storylines would be competing in your usual #TEAMNOAH or #TEAMDIEGO sense. After all, it is the ex who broke her heart vs. the meet-cute who stole it without trying. But, with there being highs and lows with both, ultimately they are balanced.

Diego immediately encourages Ivy’s music, and things get very hot and heavy quickly. Naturally, this leads to some discord when things get real, and they have to figure out what’s left once the embers stop burning.

Then with Noah, there is history. Sordid in some parts, but nothing outright unforgivable. But while history has created roads to reconciliation, there is the acknowledgment that certain patterns led to the original dissolution. Leaving you to wonder with him, can he make room for her dreams when it would be so easy for her life to be absorbed in his again?

The flaws of both are what keep you interested. What both men have to offer, and, when disagreements and issues arise, how they react, deepens your investment. For no matter what, you are on Ivy’s side. It is just how these men express their love and handle her with, or without, care that may determine if you have a favorite.

On The Fence

Getting Lost In Which Timeline We’re In [76/100]

In the beginning, the switching between lives has a clean delineation via which man is prominent in Ivy’s life, Noah, or Diego. However, things blur as the relationships get longer, more complicated, and lose their ability to remain ideal.

In some ways, it makes sense, as all three seem to have some eternal connection, allowing them to tap into their alternate lives. If it isn’t having glimpses of what life could be like, it is fate having them run into each other, almost like they are meant to have second thoughts.

But, after a certain point, as Ivy establishes her life outside the men, you may come to realize that there aren’t a huge number of things that make either timeline distinct. Hence, things feel blurred, and you having to really pay attention as it seems the two storylines converge more and more, as if some things are simply fate.

Overall

Our Rating (80/100): Positive (Worth Seeing)

With Next Life equally pursuing two relationships, which could be their own standalone film, you see how much every decision, every mistake, forms Ivy, and it pushes hard that there often isn’t a right or wrong. Simply, there is a life to live to the best of your abilities, and who you choose makes it easier to decide and understand what’s best for you.

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Amari is the founder and head writer of Wherever-I-Look.com and has been reviewing media since 2010. He approaches each production with hope, rooting for every story to succeed, and believes criticism should come from unmet potential, while praise is reserved for work that meets or exceeds expectations.