Director John Crowley created a beautiful love story that encapsulates the importance of the simple things in life with his new film “We Live in Time.” Centering around a couple who meet on a random occasion, “We Live in Time” accurately depicts the beauty that a real and raw romance can bring to people’s lives. Using a non-linear plot structure, the entirety of the movie is made up of clips concerning moments that are significant to Almut’s (Florence Pugh) and Tobias’ (Andrew Garfield) relationship, going back and forth between the past and present. What is so special and impressive about the film is how ordinary and inconsequential the scenes are, however, they still manage to make audiences feel deeply connected to the couple. When watching the film, I found myself feeling like I had such an intense sense of Almut and Tobias’ lives and personas despite the fact that there was still so much more to these two than shown on screen.
While Crowley’s creative directive can be accredited for this, the film would not have been nearly as impactful and emotive without Pugh and Garfield’s stunning performances. The two played their parts with so much passion and emotion, making Tobias and Almut seem like much more than just made-up characters. I had no doubt that Pugh would be incredible, as she is a one-of-a-kind actress, but I was interested to see how Garfield would perform, and what the pair’s chemistry would be like. Ultimately, Pugh and Garfield depicted their characters just as I hoped they would and then proceeded to create something beyond what I could have expected. Together, the two actors were able to develop characters that had many layers, making them truly unique, individualist and pure. Garfield and Pugh’s performances gave the movie humor, intense emotion, happiness and sadness — just like in real life.
I appreciated how the structure of “We Live in Time” made viewers piece together parts of Almut and Tobias’ relationship rather than overtly telling audiences everything about them. While the movie can be placed in the category of a typical romance with its themes of love, heartbreak and drama, “We Live in Time” strayed away from the predictable narratives we usually see. The simplistic energy the film maintains throughout its entirety avoids clichès and allows Almut and Tobias’ story to portray a meaningful message about life. Learning to appreciate the moments that make your life and relationships yours is a skill that will allow for instances of true human emotion. Almut and Tobias teach us that joy, fear, sadness and love should all be felt and lived through.
It is no secret that I absolutely loved this film and believe it deserves an award. I highly recommend going to see it in theaters. “We Live in Time” is one of those movies that will stick with you and have you thinking long after the credits have finished rolling.
