We Live in Time (2024) Review!!

Synopsis – An up-and-coming chef and a recent divorcée find their lives forever changed when a chance encounter brings them together, in a decade-spanning, deeply moving romance.

My Take – We all have seen weepie romantic stories about how a young man, who is usually not in a good place in his life, fall for a young woman, who is comparatively more outgoing, and go through many hardships together, in which their love overcomes all obstacles. That is until, one of them, usually the woman, gets hit by a serious illness that risks everything the two have built together.

This latest from director John Crowley (Brooklyn), who is working from a screenplay by Nick Payne (The Last Letter from Your Lover), also uses exactly the same romantic melodramatic formula, but manages to stand out by working the narrative more honestly and intelligently. Resulting in a smart and sensitive heart-over-head crowd-pleaser that will manage to be irresistible for its impassioned yet underserved audience.

Yes, it isn’t revolutionary in any form, in fact, it doesn’t even use its time-hopping format as innovatively or as heartbreakingly as it should have, but it does make us believe in the strength of the lead couple. And while it doesn’t always land every emotional beat, it still offers moments of sweetness.

Unsurprisingly, despite its shortcomings, the film is held together by the incredible performances of Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield whose incredible raw performances should have plenty of talk come award season. Their chemistry alone makes the film worth watching. As both actors manage to convey raw emotion with depth, carrying the weight of the story’s emotional core.

Told in non-linear format, the story follows the ten-year relationship between Tobias (Andrew Garfield) and Almut (Florence Pugh), two individuals from contrasting worlds. Tobias works at Weetabix, the cereal manufacturing company, while Almut is a promising Bavarian-fusion chef on the rise. Their paths cross under unexpected circumstances when Tobias, newly served with divorce papers, heads to a department store in search of a pen to sign them but is accidentally hit by Almut’s car.

Stricken with guilt, Almut invites Tobias to come along with his wife to dine at her newly opened restaurant, unaware of his recent divorce. But as their connection deepens, Tobias confesses his love and dreams of starting a family, only to face initial rejection from Almut. However, they soon reconcile, and start building a life together.

Their happiness is tested when Almut is diagnosed with ovarian cancer. After a period of remission, she becomes pregnant and gives birth to a beautiful daughter, bringing new hope. But their joy is short-lived as three years later, Almut’s cancer returns, progressing to stage three, once again threatening their future together.

While the presentation is novel, this is a relatively straightforward story. A poignant exploration of love, resilience, and the cruel twists of fate. The film exudes an old-world charm, unfolding at an unhurried pace that feels intimate and familiar. More than a gimmick, the nonlinear storytelling emphasizes the power of chance and chaos in the couple’s lives.

Sure, the frequent time jumps are not always effective, but most of them worked well enough. Thankfully, there’s no melodrama here, as the love story is never the sweeping, dramatic romance one has come to expect from the genre.

Though a lot of the film is simply an engaging, elevated take on a familiar tale, writer Payne’s script does find something more interesting and less obvious to say about a desire to be remembered as a respected professional before one’s death rather than just a loved family member.

It’s especially effective here from the perspective of Almut spends time secretly competing for the Bocuse d’Or, a major cooking competition, desperate to prove herself as exceptional.

And finally, I loved how the film’s ending manages to avoided the all of the traditional clichés of other romance films while also giving the audience the satisfaction they want to see in this film. The film’s climax, where Andrew’s character teaches his daughter how to crack eggs, is a standout moment—a quietly powerful scene laden with layers of emotion.

Of course, it helps that Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield share instantaneous chemistry throughout. It’s a joy to watch two such assured and natural performers allowed the room to exercise both star and actor muscles as well as showcase their ease with both comedy and drama. On the whole, ‘We Live in Time‘ is a solid romance that is immensely charming throughout.