Folding a ‘weepie’ into the cosy comfort of the British romcom genre, We Live in Time is the latest feature from John Crowley, an Irish director perhaps best known for his work on 2015 period piece Brookyln. His non-linear plot follows the relationship between thriving chef Almut (Florence Pugh) and downtrodden divorcée Tobias (Andrew Garfield) over the course of a decade, cutting between humour and heartache as their lives in modern-day London are rocked by a cancer diagnosis.
Due to the film’s structure, the couple’s story is told in various jumbled up chapters; their blossoming romance, the complications and conflict of parenthood, and Almut’s declining health. The script, penned by playwright Nick Payne, is acutely designed to tug on audience’s heartstrings and by presenting the narrative in this way, scenes of levity and laughter can be juxtaposed with moments of deep misery for maximum melancholy. As well as making the leads very likeable, the writing also importantly explores their flaws and the ripple effects of the decisions they make. They can be cruel, they bicker, they make mistakes but feel real and rounded – a comically frenzied childbirth sequence illustrates this brilliantly.
Putting two of our most popular stars together will instantly create buzz, but the acting on display here more than justifies the attention. With tousled hair and a pair of designer frames, Garfield does a formidable job in wholesome boyfriend mode and Pugh turns in one of the most powerful performances of her already impeccable career. Her own charisma and personality seeps into her fictional persona; her social media followers already know she is a natural in the kitchen and there are shades of her DIY ‘cooking with Flo’ videos in Almut as we see her live out her culinary passion on the big screen. Like with most of her pivotal roles, her character is met with extreme hardship and this is where she excels – an emotionally charged monologue in the third act holds particular impact.
With slices of life presented out sequence, director John Crowley has finely crafted a recipe for tragedy with Pugh and Garfield at the top of their game. Delicately balancing the flavour profile, sentimental snapshots of Almut and Tobias’ luscious love will tickle tastebuds and linger on the palate and We Live in Time leaves an almost cathartic bittersweet aftertaste.
Cinema Perspective 