Love of Your Life, the sophomore directorial feature from Oscar-nominated cinematographer-turned-director Rachel Morrison, had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 13 at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. Distributed by Amazon MGM Studios, the film will receive a limited theatrical release on October 7 before streaming on Prime Video starting October 14. It stars Margaret Qualley as Maya, a Boston ER nurse whose whirlwind romance and marriage to Charlie, played by Gabriel Basso, is upended by loss during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, sending her on a years-long journey of grief, self-discovery and, eventually, a new relationship with Felix, played by Aaron Pierre.
The critical response out of Toronto has been genuinely split, with some critics calling it one of the year’s most emotionally rewarding studio dramas, while others have found it beautifully shot but ultimately hollow. That divide is also reflected in the wider critical response, with some reviewers praising Morrison’s handling of grief and Qualley’s performance while others have questioned the film’s emotional payoff.
The film’s structure moves through distinct phases: a breezy meet-cute and courtship, a devastating loss tied to the pandemic, and a long, wandering stretch of Maya’s life abroad as she avoids confronting her grief. Deadline’s review described it as “The Notebook meets Eat Pray Love,” while noting that Morrison and screenwriter Julia Cox’s script gives it its own alternating rhythms. That review found the film “meandering at times” but ultimately compelling, crediting that largely to “Qualley’s undeniable screen presence.”
IndieWire’s David Ehrlich was the film’s strongest champion, calling it “one of my favorite things” and praising it as a gorgeously shot romantic drama that still manages to feel real where it matters. He also highlighted the film’s unusually candid treatment of the pandemic era, particularly the detail with which it addresses the crisis compared with the vagueness of many studio dramas.
The Hollywood Reporter took a far more critical stance, headlining its review “Pretty but empty” and describing the film as an “unpersuasive romantic travelogue.” While the review praised an early sequence depicting Maya and Charlie’s wedding night as one of the film’s best scenes, it argued that once the pandemic disrupts their marriage, Love of Your Life starts to lose its grip. The review was particularly critical of the film’s back half, arguing that Maya becomes less emotionally alive as the story progresses and that the film ultimately settles into beautiful imagery without enough meaning.
On Qualley’s performance specifically, reviews were more aligned than divided. Even THR’s largely negative review conceded that her chemistry with Basso was a genuine highlight, noting how relaxed Qualley appears on screen and praising the natural quality of their relationship.
Deadline called her performance the film’s saving grace, arguing that Qualley makes Maya human despite a character whose choices could easily alienate an audience. Supporting players also drew praise, with Catherine Keener, playing Charlie’s mother Ruth, singled out by multiple reviews for a late, emotionally charged scene.
Reviews were similarly aligned on Rachel Morrison’s visual craftsmanship, regardless of how they responded to the screenplay. Deadline praised her work as a cinematographer-turned-director, building on the promise of her 2024 sports drama The Fire Inside, while IndieWire’s appreciation of the film’s imagery was central to its overall enthusiasm. Even THR’s critical review did not take issue with the film’s visual style, directing its criticism instead toward the screenplay’s handling of Maya’s emotional arc in the second half.
Taken together, the reviews describe a film whose craftsmanship and central performance are largely not in dispute, but whose ability to earn its emotional weight in the back half remains genuinely contested. Whether Love of Your Life lands as a sincere studio romance about grief and starting over or as a gorgeous film that loses its grip on its central character, critics agree on one thing: Margaret Qualley is a major reason to watch it.\
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Film Details : Love of Your Life
Director: Rachel Morrison
Writer: Julia Cox
Cast: Margaret Qualley, Gabriel Basso, Aaron Pierre, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Catherine Keener, Tamara Lawrance, Corey Johnson
Genre: Romantic Drama
Rating: R
Runtime: 1 hour 49 minutes
Production Company: Open Invite Films
Distributor: Amazon MGM Studios
Cinematography: Todd Banhazl
Composer: Dustin O’Halloran
Festival: Toronto International Film Festival 2026 (Special Presentations)
Release Date: October 7, 2026 (Theatrical) / October 14, 2026 (Prime Video)
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