Review: “We Live in Time” Reinvents Romantic Dramas

By Caleb Lin     10/22/24 11:29pm

Score: ★★★★★

There’s nothing quite like emotionally attaching yourself to vivid characters that provide an escape from your imperfect (and love-forsaken) reality. So, for all of the swooners and fans of John Green’s “The Fault in Our Stars,” this film is for you.

“We Live in Time,” directed by John Crowley and produced by the critically acclaimed film studio A24, is a romantic drama long-anticipated by fans. It stars Oscar-nominated actors Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh, two familiar faces who initially drew me to this film. After all, who wouldn’t want to witness the chemistry between a childhood-favorite Spiderman and the star of “Midsommar”?

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Tobias (Garfield) and Almut (Pugh) are a young couple who meet after Almut accidentally hits Tobias with her car after he wanders into the road. After she invites him to her restaurant, their relationship blossoms as they navigate conflicts like future ambitions, having children and ultimately, Almut’s cancer diagnosis. 

While this may sound like the typical youthful-love-turned-tearjerker plotline, what sets “We Live in Time” apart is the nonlinear storytelling. The film opens with a quaint depiction of Tobias and Almut living with their daughter Ella (Grace Delaney), followed by a conversation with their doctor about Almut’s ovarian cancer. Just in the first several minutes, the audience already knows significant details that most films usually don’t reveal until much later, cultivating a lingering curiosity for the backstory. The result? A collection of beautiful snapshots of Tobias and Almut’s relationship that masterfully allows audiences to see it develop.

While there are mixed reviews regarding the clarity and effectiveness of this narrative style, I think it was easy to keep track of the timeline. Certain markers like Almut’s hair, pictures of Ella on desks and Almut’s pregnancy progression clearly demarcated the time period and kept those transitions smooth. And though some may view it as slow and dragging, the montage technique works because you get an intimate look at Tobias and Almut’s day-to-day lives, from witty dialogue to relatable frustrations. The audience is rewarded for noticing small details with many callbacks and a circular closing that feels so moving and bittersweet. 

Of course, the tone and feelings in each scene are only captured so well because of the actors. Garfield has an endearing, awkward personality that synergizes well with Florence Pugh’s witty, headstrong character. Their interactions feel palpable and authentic in both the humorous moments and dramatic ones. And if you’re worried about the sexual content as I was, those scenes are brief and non-gratuitous, contributing to the sense of exhilarating intimacy.

“We Live in Time” is a testament to how we hold our loved ones in memory and how we feel about the life we’ve lived. When Almut finds out about her cancer diagnosis, she tells Tobias about her hesitancy to undergo treatment, wanting to make the most of her final months rather than spending that time sick from chemotherapy. This mentality discusses living a life we’re proud of, and it’s touching to see Almut pursue her passion for cooking for the sake of being someone her daughter could look up to. The collage of Tobias and Almut’s relationship, from cracking eggs in a specific way that makes getting rid of shells easier to awkwardly ice skating as a family after a cooking competition, represents how we remember our loved ones through a beautiful whirlwind of moments. 

Overall, “We Live in Time” reinvents conventional romantic dramas through its distinctive storytelling and perspective on what makes love worthwhile even in its fleetingness. So, if you’re someone who hasn’t felt the warmth of a good romance story in a while, I’m happy to say … you’ve found this film just in time. 

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