Do you want to be remembered after you are gone? If so, what do you want to be remembered for? If you were fatally ill, would you refuse treatment and choose quality of life over quantity? For Almut (Florence Pugh; Black Widow) and Tobias (Andrew Garfield; The Amazing Spider-Man), these are the questions they struggle with after Almut is diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer, and their ideas of what to do next seem to be at odds with one another. How they will handle their emotions as they navigate the trials of illness, mortality, and survival is brought to life in the new A24 drama/comedy We Live In Time.
Tobias works for Weetabix, the cereal company, and is in a hotel room when he finally decides to sign his divorce papers. However, unable to find a working pen, he ventures out in a bathrobe to buy one and some candy. On the way back to the hotel, he is accidentally hit by a car and taken to the hospital. While there, he meets Almut, a chef driving the vehicle that hit Tobias.
Over time, the two form a relationship, despite being polar opposites. As they fall in love, they live together, beat Almut's cancer diagnosis, and have a daughter, they live life to the fullest. However, when Almut's cancer returns, she must question which is more important to her: the quality of her time left on Earth or the quantity, and how she wants to be remembered when she is gone.
Pugh is a phenomenal actress and her talent is showcased beautifully during every second of this movie. From her carefree demeanor when she and Tobias meet, to her range of emotions while giving birth in a gas station bathroom on New Year's Eve, to her emotional reflection as she looks back on her life. Garfield, as the straight-laced Tobias, is a wonderful complement to Pugh's more outrageous character. Not to mention that these two actors have chemistry for miles that works on every level, regardless if it is a steamy sex scene or a tender moment immediately following the birth of their daughter. The two actors are well-matched, making the emotional aspects of the film work very well. Newcomer Grace Delaney is adorable as the couple's daughter.
Director John Crowley (Brooklyn) takes writer Nick Payne's (The Last Letter From Your Lover) words and brings them to life in a meaningful way. Crowley's visuals enhance the words being spoken and the story being told, and the Yin and Yang of the chaotic times blended with the quiet, introspective moments between the characters balance the plot. The flashbacks interlaced with the present can be a little disconcerting, but you get used to them after a while.
We Live In Time is both depressing and uplifting all at once. It will make you ask yourself the same question Almut asks Tobias...how do you want to live your life and how do you want to be remembered? You find yourself thinking about your mortality and what's most important in your life. Of course, you will also find yourself using an entire box of tissues as the movie ends, which means Pugh, Garfield, Crowley, and Payne did their job expertly.
As far as romances go, We Live In Time doesn't have the traditional, happy ending we all want but instead throws a dose of unfair reality in, which is where the drama comes into play. However, the viewer can't help but walk away from the movie feeling at least a little lighter emotionally, thanks to Almut's outlook and Tobias' unconditional love of his partner and their child.
Grade: A
