We Live in Time puts a unique spin on the classic rom-com, interesting yet comfortingly familiar. The film is directed by John Crowley, an Irish director best known for the incredibly successful Brooklyn, which was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards in 2016. We Live In Time stands to be one of A24’s many commercial successes of the year and potentially one of their Oscar bids.
The story follows the lives of Almut, played by Florence Pugh and Tobias, played by Andrew Garfield. The pair meet when Almut accidentally hits Tobias with her car, and from there we watch the relationship blossom. Pugh and Garfield have such joyful chemistry and watching the two leads fall in love feels natural.
Andrew Garfield is almost painfully earnest, oddly charming, and unwaveringly sexy. Garfield has wonderful comedic timing and his slightly awkward confidence is perfectly balanced by the chaos of Florence Pugh. From the moment she appears on screen, Pugh creates a full and believable character. She avoids being samey as a female rom-com lead, and when she falls in love it feels genuine. However, We Live in Time isn’t really about falling in love. While it begins with a romance, it is more than a romance film.
While We Live in Time follows the classic rom-com rhythm, it does not rely on any tired tropes or overused character conventions. Both leads almost insist on consistently subverting audience expectations. It is Almut who embarks on a fascinating adventure, while Tobias waits at home. It’s refreshing to see that Almut’s story does not revolve solely around Tobias and their relationship, and she sometimes puts him second to pursue her passions.
We Live in Time is fresh, fun, and ferociously emotional. It asks a very serious question, what would you do, and how would you live if you knew your time was limited? What I admire about this film is that it acknowledges that the answer to that question isn’t always romantic. It isn’t always beautiful, and it definitely isn’t easy. This film is less about romance and more about living, and that is why I believe it will stand the test of time.
