“We Live in Time” is a vulnerable romance
On Oct. 19, “We Live in Time” was released in theaters. The movie is a wonderful film, following the very emotional and raw relationship of Tobias, played by Andrew Garfield, and Almut, played by Florence Pugh. Through the impactful acting performances and directing choices, the film leaves a lasting impression on audience members.
To start with, the acting of this film is extremely beautiful. Pugh and Garfield have an undeniable chemistry from the start, but they also take time to build it. Their very first meeting, in which she hits him with her car, leaves viewers with a familiar sense of awkward energy. They have an amusing banter, but the energy and responses are slow. It is fun and playful, yet there is still room for uncomfortable silence. By the end of the film, the actors manage to develop their relationship to the point where those uncomfortable silences become familiar and comfortable ones. Viewers will develop a love for their relationship, that may even reflect their own life. Both actors deliver emotionally moving performances that really draw viewers to the screen.
Up next, I would like to discuss the directing. While there is not a clearly linear timeline of the film, it does not take long to catch up on what is present time versus the past. It is almost as if all of the plot is happening at once. The director opted to not leave anything to the imagination, as viewers are given a very clear vision of Almut and Tobias’ lives through their relationship. The lack of censoring within this film is what I think makes it worth the watch, as it adds to the rawness and builds the plot to a universal point, where it can somehow resonate with everyone. On top of that, the general filming style helped to communicate different themes. The whole movie was dynamically shot, with a wide range of depth. It focused solely on the actors, with very few shots straying from these subjects, which allows an increased pace so as not to slow the film down.
Going into “We Live in Time”, I was unsure how to feel. I absolutely love Pugh and Garfield, but I truly did not understand how it was going to pan out. In my mind, I was expecting a slow and emotional film. One that has been made time and time again, yet somehow, the classic romantic plot managed to enthrall me in a way I did not expect. It maintained the emotional aspect I was expecting, but balanced that with the good moments of their lives, all while staying at an easy to follow pace.
Overall, I cannot recommend this movie enough. No matter how you want to feel after watching it, I can say you will feel it all. Joy, sadness, anger, any and all of the above. It will make you laugh and it will make you cry, all while you think over your life and whether or not you can deem it to be one you are glad to have lived, from beginning to end.
