‘We Live in Time’ Review: The Highs and Lows of Love

Romantic films, whether they are dramas or comedies, are only as strong as the chemistry between their leads. Even a strong script can become mediocre if the bond between lovers doesn’t feel real to the audience. We Live in Time doesn’t have that issue. Stars Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh are captivating from their first moment on screen together. The romantic drama tells a classic love story, complete with all the familiar highs and lows of a relationship. While the story is nothing audiences haven’t seen before, it’s their delicate and loving dynamic that brings out all the emotions and hits you hard in the heart. We Live in Time is a reminder that love is timeless.

Almut (Florence Pugh) and Tobias (Andrew Garfield) find themselves falling deeply in love with each other, and while their differences sometimes cause tension in their relationship, they can’t stop wanting to be with one another. Life events like their first date, meeting the parents, and having kids are covered in this decades spanning romance. But when Almut is diagnosed with cancer, everything is put into perspective and the two reflect on the time they have left together and how it should be spent.

We Live in Time isn’t presented in a linear fashion, and instead jumps around during various points in Almut’s and Tobias’ relationship. It can be a bit jarring at first as there is no immediate indication of which point in time you’re seeing. One minute they’re having a discussion with their daughter Ella (Grace Delaney) and the next minute she’s cooking dinner for him and telling him how she’s not interested in having kids. Once you actually get to know and understand the characters a bit it’s easier to place when things are happening in the story, but it takes a second to orient yourself whenever a time jump occurs. Honestly, it’s not the best storytelling manner. It’s sometimes cool to see the immediate juxtaposition and change in their relationship like with the kids conversation referenced. It also sacrifices some of the gravity of the story as well, however. Seeing them argue and breakup in the middle of the film loses some of its impact because you already know they’re going to be together. Ella’s birth is gonna be fine because we’ve already seen her happy and healthy. There are some moments that simply don’t have the same emotional impact because we’ve already seen how they will end up beforehand.

That being said, they are still worth seeing. These snippets in time are like flipping through a photo album of Almut’s and Tobias’ memories together. Almut’s cancer diagnosis is most recent thread that the story is following in a more linear fashion so it’s the one that is slowly unraveled piece by piece. Their memories are like puzzle pieces that show audiences the whole picture of their relationship. It’s not perfect and is full of both high and low moments. Director John Crowley does a great job at crafting a believable romance between the two. Their conversations feel real and grounded. Sometimes you’ll be completely on Almut’s side while others you’ll be rooting for Tobias. It also works because both Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield are magical together.

The chemistry between Pugh and Garfield is palpable enough to bring out every emotion. They are wonderful on screen together and from the moment they meet you immediately want their relationship to succeed. Not only that, but you want both of them to succeed as individuals. Almut is a professional chef and wants to make a name for herself. Tobias works for Weetabix but it’s not the job that matters to him so much as having a family he is able to support and love. The two want different things, and while that does bring tension to their relationship, they are both able to grow and learn and have the hard conversations that come with that. There’s nothing particularly nuanced about We Live in Time. There have been plenty versions of this romance in film for decades. It works here however because of how believable it feels and how easily it is able to tap into your emotions. It doesn’t need to do anything new or fancy; it just needs to tell its story well.

We Live in Time is a whirlwind romance for the ages. It’s a reminder that time is finite and all we have control over is how we decide to spend it. Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield deliver emotionally explosive performances as a couple deeply in love yet still with enough flaws to make their romance believable for the silver screen. Prepare to experience the whole gamut of emotions as We Live in Time takes you on its journey of highs and lows.