Filmmakers attempting a successful romance have a delicate task ahead of them. Whether the story is comedic or dramatic, a love story requires more than just two beautiful people pretending to like each other. It also has to have an interesting point of view to present its emotional beats. We Live In Time has all of that, with two talented lead actors and a compelling story that will hit you right in the feels.
Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh play Tobias and Almut. They meet when she accidentally hits him with her car. He is just divorced and she is single as well, so it doesn’t take long for attraction to take over. Tobias visits the London restaurant where Almut works as a chef, and their lives include each other from that moment forward. The next ten years feature a lot of ups and downs between the two of them. The biggest of those extremes come in defining moments– the birth of a child, a cancer diagnosis– that highlight what life is really about, for them and us.
The emotion of We Live In Time is undeniable, especially in the hands of powerful performers like Garfield and Pugh. They take a good story and elevate it into something deeply affecting. The actors are the most special element of We Live In Time but the film as a whole is an excellent romantic drama.
“I am guilty of looking ahead, instead of right in front of me.”
The first thing audiences need to know about the storytelling in this script is that it is non-linear. In other words, the events don’t play out in chronological order, and there are good and bad things about this. First, we see Tobias and Almut already comfortable and happy together. Almut’s talent and success at cooking also comes into focus. Then comes the heavy turn in the plot– Almut learns she has ovarian cancer.
The dialogue indicates this is not the first time she has faced this battle. But the film doesn’t show us that yet. Instead, we find out how Tobias and Almut met. One of the things I like best about the script here is that writer Nick Payne knows that the tragic plotting needs to be alleviated with touches of comedy to really work. This sequence is a good example of that. Tobias is running to a local store in a bathrobe because his pen broke and ruined his shirt and he has to buy a new pen to sign his divorce papers. That’s when Almut accidentally hits him.
This balance between angst and humor continues throughout the film. We learn the two have a daughter and the start of Almut’s labor is steadily milked for laughs. Tobias is very structured about the process, timing her contractions precisely and being very meticulous about what to do. It is tickling to watch him finally throw that out the window when they try to drive to the hospital and their car has been blocked in by two others. A later sequence shows the whole birth, and it fits into the same tone. It’s an outstanding scene.
“I can’t bear the thought of being forgotten.”
Even though the angst of the story is clear, and I’ve mentioned the humor, the filmmakers didn’t forget the romance part of this love story. Moments like Tobias’ first taste of Almut’s cooking and his proposal are presented in such a memorable way. I really enjoyed them for their romantic impact. Director John Crowley did a wonderful job making the romantic subplot of his 2015 film Brooklyn special, so it’s no surprise to me that this film works so well.
It helps that he has Garfield and Pugh as his lead actors. Both of them are generational talents, and their work here is stunning and award-worthy. Garfield makes the comedy bits come off as quite charming. And both of the leads make the heavy stuff look effortless. Watching their performances here, it makes total sense that they both have Oscar nominations under their belts. I’m sure more are in their future as well.
Like I said, the non-linear screenplay has pros and cons. It is a more interesting way to experience a love story onscreen, but I didn’t sense an underlying reasoning for why the scenes were arranged the way they were. The love story is still thoroughly effective, though. You will invest in Tobias and Almut together and you will sob through a broken heart by the end. We Live In Time hits all the emotions without being manipulative. That and the acting make it a film romantics won’t want to miss.
4 stars out of 5
We Live In Time is now playing in theaters.
