A love story out of order: ‘We Live in Time’ review
A tale of love and life
One moment, award-winning chef Almut (Florence Pugh) is waking her beloved Tobias (Andrew Garfield) to sample her latest culinary creation. The next, it’s the middle of the night, and a now-pregnant Almut is timing her contractions while parked on the toilet. “We Live in Time” is a film that captures the essence of love stories through moments both grand and intimate.
We Live in Time is directed by John Crowley, who has crafted a film that feels like a greatest hits compilation of a typical romantic comedy. The movie serves up all the key scenes from Almut and Tobias’ relationship—meeting each other’s families, the marriage proposal, parenthood, divorce, cancer diagnoses, and so on—but not in chronological order.
A unique narrative approach
Crowley’s storytelling method is unconventional, presenting scenes in a seemingly arbitrary sequence. This approach might seem klutzy, but Crowley is confident that the chemistry between Pugh and Garfield is compelling enough to make viewers want to watch the movie repeatedly. Over time, Almut and Tobias’ memories become our memories, making the sequence of events less significant.
In contrast to the multiverse romance of Nick Payne’s earlier work, “Constellations”, “We Live in Time” sticks to a single reality. Crowley believes that the emotional beats of the story will hit harder if presented strategically, even if the order seems random. This method can be confusing, especially when scenes jump from one timeline to another without clear transitions.
The heart of the story
At the core of this A24 release is Almut’s diagnosis of Stage 3 ovarian cancer. The film reveals that this is a recurrence of an earlier bout with the disease, during which Almut had to decide whether to remove a single impacted ovary or her entire uterus. The couple’s daughter, Ella (Grace Delaney), is seen shaving her mom’s head for the second round of treatment, indicating their earlier decision.
Crowley has a long history with Andrew Garfield, having discovered him in 2007’s “Boy A”. “We Live in Time” marks a reunion for the director and actor, showcasing a more mature project for both. Crowley leverages Garfield’s emotional range, summoning his ability to convey deep feelings through watering eyes and quavering lips at every step of their relationship.
A memorable first encounter
Rather than revealing the entire decade-long love story, let’s focus on their first meeting. Almut blindsides Tobias with her car, a memorable initial spark. However, by the time Crowley shows this scene, we’ve already been to the hospital, making it slightly disorienting to untangle who is the patient (hint: it’s the one in the neck brace). The tagline for this movie could be ”Meet cute. Die cuter,” as it strives to make every scene endearing and/or adorable.
The emotional impact
Cancer is an ugly disease, and if we accept it here as more than just a plot device, “We Live in Time” could offer comfort. However, the filmmakers seem committed to forcing an emotional reaction, making terminal illness feel like a page from the Nicholas Sparks playbook. Many of the moments Crowley presents are touchstones in most people’s lives: the childbirth scene is a showstopper, and Tobias’ proposal—bashfully delivered at the end of a hallway lined with candles and carrots—ranks up there with Hugh Grant classics.
This approach gives people who’ve faced cancer a swoony romance to cling to, though this couple experiences such an idealized form of it that normal folks might feel they’re doing it wrong. What “We Live in Time” does differently is take the woman’s concerns seriously. Tobias wants Almut to marry him and have children, but as an ultra-competitive personality, she has different priorities. Pugh plays Almut with a balance of vulnerability and independence, asserting her self-respect.
Living in the moment
After Almut’s second cancer diagnosis, she poses a hypothetical to Tobias: What if, instead of undergoing another round of treatment, they lived the coming months to the fullest? This question hints at the logic behind the movie’s non-linear chronology. Tobias clings to memories, while Almut insists on seizing each remaining moment. Her commitment to a culinary competition drives the plot forward.
Who doesn’t love a gourmet cooking scene or several? These moments balance the film nicely, wedged between make-ups, breakups, and tender moments. Crowley even teaches us the best way to crack eggs (on a flat surface). If only there were a way to unscramble his movie.
“We Live in Time” is a film that challenges traditional storytelling methods, offering a unique take on love, life, and the moments that define us.