In one blissful moment, two exhausted lovers embrace their newborn; the next, a heated argument over treatment proceedings. If there was ever a film surgically stitched together to make you cry, it’s “We Live in Time.” Director John Crowley takes two of Hollywood’s most charming Brits and weaves us through their converging lives, sharply juxtaposing the euphoria of romance and the destructiveness of cancer.
It might piggyback off of Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield’s undeniable chemistry, but A24’s latest is another success — a warm, meandering traipse through three stages of a couple’s absorbing relationship.
When an up-and-coming chef, Almut (Pugh), runs over a recently divorced man, Tobias (Garfield), a chance magnetic connection takes shape. Through years of romance, parenthood and sickness, the two must decide how to spend their fleeting moments together.
The film’s defining gimmick is its fragmented structure, swiveling back and forth between three distinct chapters of its central relationship. At first glance, this persistent time travel felt aimless, even random. But as we get to know our leads, trudging deeper beneath their vanilla surfaces, the film becomes more coherent. Though falling in love, pregnancy and cancer are frequently explored in media, “We Live in Time” contextualizes each within Almut and Tobias’s perspective on time — one trying to preserve it and the other making the best of it.
Garfield turns in another layered, expressive performance. His eyes are sprinkled with tears for much of the film, whether out of anger, joy or sadness. A down-on-his-luck divorcee morphs into the sweetest partner and father. Even when he’s clearly in the wrong, you can’t help but trust and admire his stance. Pugh is even more impressive, getting to work with more explicitly loud and devastating material by way of pregnancy and cancer. There’s one unforgettable scene in a gas station bathroom where her chops are on full display. I can not stress enough how vital the performances are to this movie’s watchability; it simply does not work without them.
Visually, I felt disconnected from “We Live in Time.” It’s a sad story, and I assume the filmmakers intended to have it look as gloomy and mundane as life, but a lack of visual personality beyond commonplace color motifs didn’t wow me. It doesn’t look bad, not even remotely, but I expect more from an A24 film in the looks department.
Bryce Dessner’s score, however, was an excellent mood-setter. His twinkly, soft melodies support the film’s wide range of emotions, energizing the emotional highs and sobering the lows.
“We Live in Time” might not be the freshest take on romance, but its stunning star performances and moving, non-linear exploration of time are enough to piece together a win for A24. With Garfield and Pugh at the helm, you really can’t go wrong.
Popcorn Rating: 4/5 bags of popcorn
