We Live In Time Is The Romantic Drama We Need This Year – Here’s Why

On January 1 of this year, A24 gave us yet another masterpiece, We Live in Time starring two of Hollywood’s largest stars, Florence Pugh (Almut) and Andrew Garfield (Tobias).

The form of the movie is abstract as it is piecing together different moments throughout Almut’s and Tobias’ love story. The two actors produced an outstanding performance of modern day to day life while showing us exemplary on screen chemistry.

The couple meet under unique circumstances, when Almut hits Tobias with her car. Almut is a successful chef and restaurant owner and Tobias works for Weetabix. Yes, the breakfast cereal.

We see the early days of their relationship and the two characters falling in love. We see their arguments, them making up and introductions to family and friends. We see them growing together and eventually, into a family of three.

We soon find out that Almut has been in remission from ovarian cancer for several years, and that the cancer has returned and is stage 3. The couple battle between what each believes to be the right route to take. Almut is conflicted as she doesn’t want what little time she has left to be spent sick in hospital and wants to focus on her career and family, whereas Tobias wants her to try everything possible in order to get better.

The movie highlights the struggles that many families face when dealing with life threatening illnesses. Garfield and Pugh bring to life the difficult aspects of facing death rather than showing us a romanticised version.

We’re shown aspects such as stepping down from your passion, tensions with your partner, not wanting to take treatment and having to explain to your child why mummy is bald now. We see the pair create an undramatised, domestic world, one where they live a calm life for their daughter, and choose to not make cancer such a scary thing, instead enjoying every moment life is offering them.

In one scene in particular, Almut decides to shave her hair off prior to treatment. The family of three head outside to the garden, with mum and daughter sitting together on a chair. Tobias begins to shave the hair from Almut’s head with a razor, each strand falling with a sense of relief.

The scene hugs the audience with comfort and safety as well as amplifying the love Tobias and Almut share for each other in such vulnerable moments. As we watch Pugh’s iconic pout, Garfield’s amorous eyes and begin to believe that this movie is purely a love story, we are soon reeled back into reality.

One of the final scenes involves both Tobias and his daughter waving at Almut from across an ice skating rink, and although it is never explicitly said that she has passed away, it is made known in a tasteful and effective way that does not require explanation.

We Live in Time brings you on an emotional rollercoaster full of Jaffa Cakes, illness, petrol station restrooms, unconditional love and tragic misfortune, and should be on the top of your watchlist this January.

Words by Emma Gleeson