In a world of phones and social media, it is too easy to forget how beautiful the world we live in is, however, films such as We Live in Time, remind us of the special nature of our world and the limited nature of it. The film features two of the biggest stars within British culture, Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield who play Almut and Tobias. Pugh has risen to fame in the last five years, getting an Oscar nomination, whilst being in an array of great films. Whilst Andrew Garfield has been Spider-Man but also an Oscar nominee, as well as starring in modern classics like The Social Network. That met with John Crowley’s direction, gives this drama an instant appeal, but this journey through time is much more than a simple drama, with a beautifully British feel.
The film follows the couple through several periods in their life as they transcend first love, having a daughter, and dealing with Almut’s returning cancer. In what is a journey through time, the emotional journey feels like an emotional burden, with the non-linear tale providing an emotional whiplash that makes the characters feel like they are trapped in time. However, what makes the film magical is the moments of joy that feel timeless, like we could live in this moment forever. Indeed, whilst We Live In Time could be considered a weepie, I haven’t wanted to stay in a cinematic world so desperately for a long time.
What is immediately noticeable about We Live In Time is its cosy British nature. It is a warm blanket whilst sitting by the fire. The environment is immediately inviting, noticeable in the opening scene of Almut’s early morning run as she forages in the nearby woods and collects eggs from her chickens. It is the sort of the idyllic British lifestyle the film understands so perfectly. Even the terraced house they live in early in their relationship feels brilliantly dressed, and part of the great success of the film, it is just so cosy. Meanwhile, the film also has loads of British references such as Weetabix, Chocolate Oranges, and Jaffa Cakes, making the film so warm. It is a feel-good film that feels similar to the works of Richard Curtis, particularly About Time, with its look at the wonder and limitations of life.
Of course, the film would not be the same without Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield, who bring great nuance, grace, charm and chemistry to the roles. Andrew Garfield does a great job playing the notetaking Tobias, who is incredibly supportive of his wife and almost afraid to put his opinion forward in what is a very atypical male figure. However, the film’s heart is with Florence Pugh’s Almut, a fine dining chef who is struggling to know how to deal with her cancer prognosis. Her profession is physical meaning she may have to stop to get treatment, whilst it also being a job where emotional expression is not the norm. Early on Pugh poses the film’s central thesis: whether it is better to live a few months full of passion and joy, rather than undergo chemotherapy which may not work, giving her a little bit longer to live, but where she won’t be well enough to live it to the full. Pugh gives great grace in a role, and with Garfield they give great chemistry of a real relationship, going through real emotions and moments in life with comedic undertones. The film is a great joy.
Whilst it is not without its flaws, the non-linear narrative has particularly been a point of contention, We Live In Time had my heart from minute one. With a great score that plays in the background, quietly manipulating your emotions, to fun moments of everyday occurrences. It is a film that reawakened my passion for life. Whilst it is not the most technically impressive, or thematically powerful, to me this is what cinema was made for. A film that is so emotionally moving, wishing you could stay in the world they live in, whilst reawakening your love for the world we live in and the limited time we have left.
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