by Tabatha Golat –
Every once in a while, I see a movie trailer and immediately know the film will become a new favourite. That’s how I felt about We Live In Time. After getting teary-eyed during the trailer, I knew it would be a heartbreaker, but I didn’t expect its emotional impact to linger for days. We Live In Time is a deeply moving exploration of grief, love and relationships that tugs at the heartstrings before ultimately breaking them.
We Live In Time premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2024 to positive reviews, with critics praising the performances of stars Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield. Now in theatres, this romantic comedy-drama follows a non-linear narrative detailing the relationship between Almut (Pugh), a Michelin-starred chef, and Tobias (Garfield), a Weetabix salesman, over the span of a decade. Director John Crowley masterfully balances the film’s tone, blending major life events with quiet, everyday interactions that make the couple’s love feel both real and lived-in. This approach invites the audience into the relationship with a unique intimacy that’s rarely achieved on screen.
The film’s non-linear timeline makes the plot tricky to sum up, yet the effect is profound. It opens with Almut’s cancer diagnosis and her difficult choice: undergo a year of chemotherapy and endure its toll, or live for six months and cherish her remaining time with Tobias. Through flashbacks, we see how they met – Almut accidentally hits Tobias with her car as he retrieves a pen he just bought to sign his divorce papers. Flash forward and the couple is at a diner, carefully breaking the news of Almut’s diagnosis to their daughter. Another flashback delivers one of the film’s most memorable scenes – Almut giving birth in a gas station bathroom, a scene both touching and hilarious.
The story is beautifully told, but it’s Pugh and Garfield’s performances that truly make the film. Their chemistry feels deeply authentic, and their relationship, complete with its highs and lows, is entirely believable. Both characters are flawed in ways that make them endearing and their vulnerabilities ultimately strengthen their bond, pulling viewers in even further.
We Live In Time reminds us of how relationships are remembered through moments big and small, messy, beautiful, sad and joyful. Telling a subtle story this way is challenging without obvious cues like a narrator or title cards, but Crowley executes it flawlessly.
For more films that play with timelines and tug at your heart, check out these recommendations:
1. 500 Days of Summer, Disney+
2. Little Women, Netflix
3. Arrival, Apple TV
4. Away From Her, Netflix
