For cinephiles with soft spots in their hearts for romantic dramas like Love Story, We Live In Time is definitely for you. The film depicts an initially charming relationship between a man and woman whose meeting begins rather disturbingly. I will let my readers discover that on their own, but once the two connect, the chemistry is undeniable. Now, usually, I am not a sucker for romance stories or romantic comedies, but the writing, direction, and acting in this movie totally sucked me in. Everything that plays out in this film feels genuine to life, and this authenticity is what truly immerses the audience in the story.
Written by Nick Payne and directed by John Crowley, We Live In Time takes a non-linear approach to its story. This unique storytelling technique, while initially confusing, is easy to follow once acclimates to the characters and their proceedings. The basic story involves Tobias Durand (Andrew Garfield), a breakfast cereal representative who connects with chef Almut Brühl (Florence Pugh) in a bizarrely serendipitous meeting. This crazy event leads to them beginning a romantic relationship that will face several challenges on the road ahead. This journey involves careers, marriage, parenthood, and illness, but regardless of these obstacles, their love still prevails.
Now, that sounds rather schmaltzy, but the writing, direction, and acting by both Garfield and Pugh make this movie work so well. I often found myself captivated and compelled by their love story and the difficulties they face in their lives. I also appreciated the care and attention the filmmakers took to acknowledge these characters’ flaws and weaknesses. These are not perfect people, and their egos and insecurities are all too familiar, interfering with what is truly important in life and their relationship. This relatability is what makes this story feel so true to life.
Both Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh are incredible, and they help to show these characters in all the best (and worst) ways. It isn’t too often that I highly recommend a movie like this, as it isn’t my favorite kind of film. However, We Live In Time works so well on so many levels and is a film that I highly recommend.