Two everyday people cross paths at a wedding and end up on a wild ride through time, facing old regrets in a story that blends real life with magic. Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell lead this new film from director Kogonada, set for release on September 19, 2025. Early buzz mixes praise for its looks with gripes about the flow, but the stars’ draw keeps tickets moving.
The Core Story
The film centers on Sarah and David, two singles who do not know each other at first. They meet at a shared friend’s wedding, where small talk turns into something bigger. Sarah’s car breaks down right after, and David steps in to help. What starts as a simple fix leads them to a red door in the woods. Stepping through it pulls them back to key points in their lives.
These trips let Sarah revisit moments like her school days or family fights that shaped her choices. David faces his own past, including talks with his father that he wishes went different. The door acts like a window to what could have been, showing how small decisions built their current lives. As they share these scenes, they start to connect over shared pains, wondering if they can tweak things to open up a better path ahead.
Director Kogonada pulls from quiet styles in films like his own past works, mixing calm shots of nature with bursts of color in the flashbacks. The runtime sits at 109 minutes, keeping the focus on their emotional steps without rushing. Screenwriter Seth Reiss builds the idea around second chances, drawing from real feelings of what if.
“This film is really about reckoning with your past in order to find the possibility of love in the present,” Kogonada said in a recent chat.
The setup feels fresh for a romance, avoiding straight love-at-first-sight tropes. Instead, it digs into how old hurts block new bonds. Scenes shift from a quiet lighthouse view to high school halls, all tied by the door’s pull. No big action, just personal growth through these jumps.
Key Players and Their Roles
Margot Robbie plays Sarah, a woman stuck in routines after years of letdowns. She brings her sharp timing from roles in lighter films, but here she shows a softer side in the quiet parts. Robbie spent time prepping to make Sarah feel real, drawing from talks with people about their regrets.
Colin Farrell takes on David, a guy carrying family weight that holds him back. Farrell, known for deep characters, adds layers to David’s doubts. He shares screen time with younger versions of himself, played by Yuvi Hecht as young David, who captures the awkward teen vibes.
Kevin Kline steps in as The Mechanic, a helpful figure who fixes more than cars. His part adds humor in the early setup, with dry lines that lighten the mood. Kline’s experience in comedies fits the quirky tone.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge appears as the Female Cashier at a rental spot, bringing her quick wit to a short but memorable scene. She interacts with the leads right after the wedding, pushing the plot forward with snappy talk.
Hamish Linklater plays David’s Dad, in a key flashback that hits hard. His role shows the family strain, and sources call it one of the film’s strong spots for raw feeling.
Lily Rabe is Sarah’s Sister, appearing in family scenes that explain Sarah’s guarded ways. Rabe adds warmth to the support side.
Other faces include Billy Magnussen as a wedding guest who sparks the meet-cute, Jodie Turner-Smith in a past-life role for Sarah, Sarah Gadon as a friend from David’s history, Chloe East as a young Sarah figure, Brandon Perea in a side comedic bit, Calahan Skogman as another past contact, and Jennifer Grant in a brief family tie-in.
The group mixes big names with solid players, all serving the leads’ arc. Casting focused on folks who could handle the mix of real and dream-like parts, checked across sites like IMDb and news outlets.
Views from Critics and Viewers
Early takes split down the middle. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 45% from critics, with audience scores just starting at zero verified ratings as of September 18, 2025. Many point to the pretty shots and score by Joe Hisaishi, his first big U.S. film work, which gives a soft, floating feel like his Studio Ghibli days.
Some say the pace drags, making the trips feel loose instead of tight. One review notes the leads seem off from each other, missing that spark in shared scenes. Others like the idea of facing pasts head-on, calling it a smart take on grown-up regrets. IMDb users rate it 6.1/10 from over 10,000 early votes, with fans praising Robbie and Farrell for carrying the quieter beats.
In straight terms, the movie works if you like slow burns with fantasy touches. The visuals pop, from forest doors to sunset spots, but the script skips some emotional punches. Farrell and Robbie do solid jobs, especially in solo past scenes, but the pair dynamic lacks punch. Hisaishi’s music lifts the weak spots, adding heart without overdoing it.
“It’s a little Dickens,” Farrell said of the time-jump setup in an Empire talk.
Social posts show excitement for the stars, with some brushing off bad early words to see it themselves. Promo runs in places like New York keep the talk going, and tickets sell steady for opening day.
The film rolls out in theaters starting September 19, 2025, from Sony Pictures, with wide U.S. and global spots.
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