We Live in Time
Jodie Foster Teaches Filmmaking
Content Advisory: Terminal Illness
The highs and lows of a young couple’s relationship are depicted non-linearly in We Live in Time. As he is finalizing the divorce from his failed marriage, Tobias (Andrew Garfield) ends up being hit by a car driven by Almut (Florence Pugh), a former figure skater turned Bavarian fusion chef. The two begin a passionate love affair and end up having a young daughter. However, the strength of their love is put to the test when Almut is diagnosed with Stage 3 Ovarian cancer.
We Live in Time Synopsis
We Live in Time is a romantic drama directed by John Crowley (Brooklyn) and stars Andrew Garfield (Tick, Tick…BOOM!) and Florence Fugh (Oppenheimer) as a young UK couple facing many ups and downs over a decade. The narrative of the film is depicted in a non-linear fashion, focusing on three specific time periods from the beginning, middle, and end of Tobias and Almut’s time together. Some of the major events depicted include the two meeting in the aftermath of a car accident, Almut giving birth in the restroom of a service station, and a cancer-ridden Almut ignoring the advice of her doctors to participate in the Bocuse d’Or cooking competition with her her commis Jade (Lee Braithwaite).
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Featuring bookending scenes involving cooking with farm-fresh eggs, We Live in Time is a romance about celebrating the small moments. The film quickly establishes the non-linear narrative by following the opening scene to one where Florence Pugh’s Almut is very pregnant, which is subsequently followed by a scene of her getting her cancer diagnosis. While We Love in Time sets itself up to be a tearjerker with Almut’s cancer diagnosis, the film is ultimately a celebration of life and the love experienced by the two main protagonists.
The non-linear format of We Live in Time allows for a contrast between different moments of Tobias and Almut’s relationship. For instance, their relationship nearly ends early on, because Almut tells Tobias she has no desire to have any children. It is only later on that it is revealed what circumstances resulted in Almut changing her mind. In addition, the scene of Almut giving birth in the restroom of a service station is probably one of the most memorable and frantic scenes of the film.
We Live in Time makes the smart decision not to focus too strongly on Almut’s impending death. However, it does lead to one of the more dramatic moments of the film, where Almut tearfully has to explain to Tobias why she decided to focus on participating in the Bocuse d’Or, despite the competition conflicting with the date of their planned wedding. In this heart-wrenching scene, Almut explains that she does not want to die without having accomplished something in her life.
By the final moments of the film, We Live in Time succeeds in its goal of being a tearjerker of a love story. However, despite being a sad film, We Live in Time is ultimately a film about celebrating all the small moments that life gives you. This includes seemingly simple tasks, such as learning the right way to crack an egg.
Trailer for We Live in Time
