'We Live in Time' 'is a Wonderfully Structured Tale of Love and Loss
Time is precious. Our lives are determined by it as we inescapably head toward our demise. Being alive for even 90 years is only a blink of the earth's eye. Writer Nick Payne and Director John Crowley craft a finely structured love story that spans multiple years, all without feeling bloated, overly sentimental (mostly), or disorganized. The filmmakers tell the story non-linearly, running the risk of making the movie confusing. Thankfully, the editing, along with thematic elements between the scenes, helps each sequence fit together seamlessly. John Crowley does a delicate juggling act that pays off in one of the better love stories I've seen this year. It's definitely light years better than the abysmally average It Ends with Us.
We Live in Time has a bit of a rough opening. It made me concerned I was in for a slog when the movie first started. The film begins with Almut (Florence Pugh) going for a jog while the opening credits roll. Almut stops in the middle of her run to stop to smell the flowers because the movie wanted to begin on a cheesy note. We get it; Almut is enjoying life. Do we need her to sniff and collect flowers to remind us of that? In the next scene Almut is cooking food, then wakes her husband Tobias (Andrew Garfield) up from bed. If you ever want to bore your audience, show your characters doing everyday routines. Nothing is more thrilling than watching someone run, cook, sleep, or brush their teeth. After the dull opener, the film begins to pick up speed thanks to its expert structure.
If the creative team behind We Live in Time decided to tell their story linearly, the rest of the film could have been a snooze fest. The nonlinear structure not only works but draws you into these characters' relationships by fleshing out their fears, flaws, and compassion through moments that connect like a bridge. The story doesn't particularly reinvent the wheel of the romance flick but does a wonderful job at actually making all the formulas of its genre work. The story is an uplifter but not a traditional one. After the opening credits, we cut to a pregnant Almut. She receives distressing news from her Doctor informing her that she has stage three ovarian cancer. After receiving what could be her death sentence, Almut tells Tobias that she's considering not going through chemo. To her, why live a miserable six years with no guarantee of living if she can spend her limited remaining time living a celebratory life devoid of all the pain chemotherapy will give her? She has a point.
Most people would argue that Almut has to fight her cancer so she can survive for her daughter. But what if she doesn't live through the treatment? As I approach my forties, I begin to think about cancer myself, where I've had the very same thoughts as Almut. There's not much of a point in spending the rest of my life going bald and throwing up for something that's not guaranteed. Certainly, a life of pain is better than eternal darkness. But what if I don't make it through chemo? Sometimes, I feel like it's better not to know if I'm dying. Just let the cancer take its course so I can live my life without that horrible thought constantly poisoning my mind. If I suddenly die one day, then that's my choice.
Almut's decision to forgo treatment is a very real conversation that many of us have. It's just that we don't like to talk about it publicly so much, as the need to live outweighs the need for temporary happiness. Within the first five minutes the movie is informing the audience that they should brace themselves for a tragedy. We don't know when it's going to come. Well, it's easy to guess, but it's still a looming shadow hanging over our protagonist's heads. The movie isn't all about loss. We Live in Time is a celebration of life. It's about the people we fall in love with, the families we build, and our sense of purpose in the world.
As this a love story in every classic sense of the word, the meet-cute between our main characters is delighful. In the midst of a divorce, Tobias goes out to get some pens in the middle of the night while on a business trip. Wearing nothing but his bathrobe, Tobias gets struck by a car driven by the woman who's going to be the love of his life. The chemistry between Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh is electric. You really get the sense that these two got along with one another when the cameras weren't rolling. That's probably because neither of them appears to have an inflated ego like some other actors do (cough, cough, Blake Lively). Tobias is sensitive and charming, and for once, Andrew Garfield gets to use his real accent. Garfield's natural sense of kindness comes across beautifully through Tobias' gentle nature.
Florence Pugh's Almut is another character who's distinctive in her characterization. She's the tough one in the relationship. Being a professional chef, Almut knows how to handle a stressful environment, which gives her the ability to handle her cancer. She can be a demanding boss lady, but not one without a soul. Together, Garfield and Pugh blend seamlessly, as their characters' love for each other doesn't come across as phony.
We Live in Time does have some flaws, but they're more nitpicks than glowing problems. At one point in the film, Almut and Tobias are out celebrating, but where is their daughter while the two are getting their drink on? Also, Bryce Dessner's score is too indie for its own good, with its generic use of acoustic guitars making some of the emotional moments of the film feel fabricated. At the end of the picture, you'll be left feeling hopeful, if not devastated. We certainly do live in time. Every day is a sign that we could die at any moment. We Live in Time is a beautiful reminder of how life is precious. To let it go to waste would be a terrible misfortune. Get your Kleenex ready for this tear-jerker.
