“We Live in Time” follows ambitious chef Almut (Florence Pugh) and recent divorcee Tobias (Andrew Garfield). The two meet by chance and embark on a love story that faces the constraints of time. John Crowley directed the film and distributed by A24.
“We Live in Time” is the epitome of a romance movie. The movie is a beautiful portrait of love, marriage and grief. It’s so charming and tender that despite the subject matter, it never truly feels like a tragedy.
Pugh and Garfield embody their characters in every single way. Garfield’s wholesome, Mr. Rogers-esque presence persona contradicts Pugh’s humo supremely well. Garfield’s mother passed away in 2019 from pancreatic cancer and the heart of that experience permeates throughout the entire film. Nothing about the emotional beats ever feels forced. Crowley writes a brilliant script and has a methodical way of directing that tugs at your heartstrings.
The chemistry between the two world-class actors is palpable and they grow with their offbeat and unconventional relationship. Both Pugh and Garfield were born to play these roles. They have more than a puncher’s chance to win some major awards.
The film enters “La La Land” territory in many ways by centering a conflict around professional achievement and love, especially as Almut’s health is failing. Analyzing bold, driven people is one of the most fascinating things in cinema. It adds a level of conflict that elevates the slice-of-life nature of the piece.
The way the film weaves through storylines while contrasting them with one another is so smooth. Telling the story in a non-linear way was an ambitious choice that captured the purity of the story. When and where doesn’t matter as long as you experience love and life. But where the film resonates is in its ability to feel grounded. So much of what drives the plot of this film is the spontaneous and humorous awkwardness of real life and the beauty and joy to be found in it. From the way the characters look to how they talk and act, “We Live in Time” is one of the most realistic films you can ever find.
The best films have a personal feel to them and “We Live in Time” feels like watching the memories of a beautiful life. Love stories like these should never leave theaters, as they show us just how precious the small amount of time we have here can be. We all have ticking clocks, if we’re unfortunate it can be accelerated. “We Live in Time” reminds us to not waste a second and to appreciate what we had because we had it in the first place.
