We Live in Time

Director: John Crowley

Writer: Nick Payne

We Live in Time, follows the life of talented chef Almut (Florence Pugh) and data analyst partner Tobias (Andrew Garfield). It tells the story of their lives together from the first, painful meeting, through all of their relationship ups and downs. We see them juggle careers, different ambitions, family and most tellingly, the difficulties that come with challenging health problems. All through a series of vignettes, that capture their lives through its emotional, humourous and hard moments.

We Live in Time, is a film that doesn’t completely work, but has enough in it to keep you engaged. What most definitely works is its two stars, who, overcome the challenges the storytelling choices present, by being believable and engaging.

Florence Pugh’s Almut, takes you on a demanding journey, a driven and talented young woman, whose life is turned upside down by the hardest of health diagnosis. Her performance always demands your attention as she struggles with how to live a life and make an impact. Garfield is the right balance against Pugh’s powerhouse performance, a calm and quiet presence around which the story revolves. Together they are believable and very watchable.

What worked less well was the non linear storytelling, which, by using moments, means you never quite feel involved, a bit like watching a highlights reel. It is also very Almut centric, it feels like Tobias is merely a spectator, it never feels like we understand the true impact of Almut’s health on his or anyone else’s life. The story is such a powerful one, but those choices means you never quite feel fully drawn in and because of it its emotional climax falls a bit flat.

This is a film that doesn’t fully work, its non linear storytelling means you never quite feel fully invested. What does work is its two stars who are very watchable. Florence Pugh demands attention whenever she’s on screen and delivers another imperious performance. Not perfect and doesn’t quite deliver the emotional punch. But thanks to its two leads, watchable enough.