We Live in Time (2024) - Film Review

      We Live in Time, 2024.

      Directed by John Crowley.

      Featuring Andrew Garfield, Florence Pugh, Grace Delaney, Lee Braithwaite, Aoife Hinds, Adam James, Douglas Hodge, Amy Morgan, Niamh Cusack, Lucy Briers, Robert Boulter, Nikhil Parmar, Kerry Godliman, Heather Craney, Matt Kennard, Sam Kennard, Laura Guest, Marama Corlett, Sue Wallace, Eliot Salt, Kevin Brewer, Fumilayo Brown-Olateju, and Roly Botha.

      SYNOPSIS:

      A rising chef and a newly divorced individual have their lives transformed when a serendipitous meeting leads to a deeply emotional romance that spans a decade.

      Director John Crowley, with a screenplay by Nick Payne and collaboration with editor Justine Wright—who manages an intricate task—clearly communicates his intentions in the heartfelt romance We Live in Time. The film navigates multiple timelines without providing much guidance, and achieving clarity in its storytelling is a notable feat, albeit within a conventional framework that seems to primarily focus on contrasting joyful and painful experiences in life and relationships, escalating both aspects as the timelines unfold, with not much else to offer.

      Each timeline depicts a distinct phase in the relationship between Almut (Florence Pugh) and Tobias (Andrew Garfield), highlighting the ups and downs they face together. Their journey includes a humorous meet-cute involving a car accident, career ambitions, a fulfilling sexual relationship, welcoming a child, and battling ovarian cancer. This serves as a rough outline of the narrative, but it is presented in a nonlinear fashion.

      For a significant portion of the film, emotional engagement is lacking, not solely because of the unconventional narrative structure. We Live in Time presents two stunningly attractive protagonists who come together primarily due to their Hollywood allure, leading to a rather dull romance that falls into the trap of portraying them as too ideal for one another.

      One pivotal argument arises when Almut expresses her reluctance to have children someday, which is significant for Tobias. This moment is juxtaposed with a seemingly happy family scene involving their future child, a choice that can come off as almost propagandistic in its conservative implications.

      Fortunately, Tobias isn’t entirely correct in his views and must reflect on the importance of supporting Almut's culinary career, especially when she’s invited to participate in a prestigious culinary competition while undergoing chemotherapy; he overly focuses on family and passivity during her illness, not recognizing how vital this career is to her. Besides that, the film showcases nearly 2 hours of a nearly flawless relationship that encounters obstacles mainly due to unexpected challenges like cancer.

      Life’s unpredictability is presented beautifully, aided by a dreamlike score from Bryce Dessner. Even though Almut and Tobias make a charming couple, the film lacks depth in characterization, relying on the nonlinear structure and accompanying contrasts to handle the emotional manipulation. While this approach is certainly more engaging than an overtly sentimental narrative, the payoff here is minimal.

      Despite Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh delivering commendable performances and effectively portraying an ideal romance while being humorous when needed, it is disheartening how little substance lies beneath the surface. We Live in Time feels more like an editing experiment than a compelling story, where the message is painfully obvious and quickly becomes tiresome.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★

      Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Critics Choice Association. He also serves as the Flickering Myth Reviews Editor. Check here for new reviews, follow my Twitter or Letterboxd, or email me at [email protected]