Running Time: 107 minutes
This feature film from A24 opens at cinemas in most markets on October 18th.
Just over a month ago, a small British drama earned a great deal of attention. It wasn’t for the movie itself, but rather a still from the picture that went viral. The image featured a horse on a carousel with a very intense expression (no doubt due to the fact that it possessed a striking overbite and didn’t have any eyelids). Sorry to disappoint those looking for a lengthy backstory on the animal, but the fairground attraction appears only for a second in the final film. That’s a positive, as We Live in Time is actually a romantic tearjerker, and a reasonably effective one at that.
Set in London, the tale jumps around in time over several years, displaying various scenes in the relationship of Tobias (Andrew Garfield) and Almut (Florence Pugh). It becomes clear over time that Tobias is a recently divorced Weetabix rep who, under grimly comedic circumstances, encounters the talented chef and restaurant-owner Almut. The two form a connection and fall for each other, but have difficulty seeing eye-to-eye on their future and whether or not to have a family. Further complications arise when she is diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Other scenes detail a recurrence of the condition, Almut’s attempts to prepare for a prestigious cooking competition, and the toll it all takes on Tobias and others in the household.
The picture is told in a very low-key manner in the hopes of adding a sense of authenticity to the proceedings and everything is carried on the shoulders of the two leads. Thankfully, the film succeeds due to the efforts of the two charismatic performers. Garfield is relatable as the genial Tobias and his sense of humor undercuts some of the seriousness in the story. There are laughs as he attempts to regroup after a nasty divorce and figure out how to move forward with Almut. A scene involving a delivery in an unexpected locale, while perhaps overly exaggerated, is sweetly rendered and punctuated with a chuckle or two. Some amusing comments are made even when situations become dark. The film’s funniest conversation is about the important role of pets teaching the young about mortality. It results in a hilarious summation from Tobias.
Co-star Pugh effectively portrays a character dealing with a potentially fatal disease and insecurities about her own legacy. Almut is more work-obsessed and ends up hiding important details from Tobias that results in friction. Her actions are occasionally ill-advised, but one can certainly understand her perspective. The movie stretches this device to the extreme when the character confesses why she wants to compete (despite being a successful restaurant owner and entrepreneur in her own right), but it is something that one can imagine a person believing. Overall, the two solid leads deal with day-to-day issues in a realistic manner.
Admittedly, the ending of the film is a little muted and perhaps doesn’t elicit as strong an emotional response as expected. This is perhaps due to the restrained tone of the film, as well as the themes being relayed. The point of the picture appears to be that many of the important moments are made up of small, personal experiences. Although not every moment is quiet, it is necessary to take joy in little things and the basics of life, as they can be meaningful in the long run. The sentiment is agreeable and the intercutting across time to show significant scenes in the relationship does ultimately sell the point.
We Live in Time doesn’t offer a whole lot in the way of surprises story-wise, but it is very well acted and tries to present melodramatic elements in a more relatable and believable manner. It strives to inspire and offer suggestions on how to deal with troubling times and the most important aspects of life. The movie does more than enough to make anyone forget about the viral horse shenanigans surrounding it. Anyone who enjoys romantic films and prefers a more subtle kind of emotional manipulation will find something to appreciate in this title.