“We Live In Time” stars Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield as Almut and Tobias, a couple in pursuit of love played on the big screen. Directed by John Crowley, this film is shot in non-chronological order, jumping back and forth from past and present.

The audience tastes a doomed romance in this drama that tugs away at the heartstrings. The non-linear script could easily fall apart with the wrong casting, but luckily the film’s megastars Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield give performances that hold the film up.

The subtle use of imagery truly captures the essence of this dramatic take on hopeless romance. The narrative starts with Garfield and Pugh together in a doctor’s office. Almut (Florence Pugh) has a severe cancer diagnosis and must receive treatment. Both Almut and Tobias (Andrew Garfield) have to make a difficult choice: six months of a fulfilling life, or a year of devastating chemo that may not work. The movie jumps back and forth from the early days of Almut’s and Tobias’ courtship to having a child. Although not all audience members will enjoy the cuts throughout the main character's history, these cuts were done purposely to give the feeling of someone reminiscing about the good old days.

In a heart-pounding scene, Almut forgets to pick up her daughter from school. Instead, Almut was focused on pursuing her goal of appearing in a cooking competition. When she returns home, Tobias is anxiously waiting for her. An argument breaks out between them, as Almut reveals she wants to be remembered as a mother who took action in her life instead of waiting hopelessly. In contrast, Tobias wants Almut to take care of herself due to her cancer and be present in their daughter's life. Both actors portray this scene beautifully, showing the harsh reality of commitment in the face of adversity.

Tobias decides to support Almut in anything she pursues, showing up to her cooking competition on the same day they were supposed to get married. After finally completing her dish, Almut leaves to join Tobias and her daughter, Ella, emphasizing the importance of family. With the limited time Almut had, she accomplished something meaningful in her career.

However, this is a romantic drama. At the film's end, Tobias shows Ella how to crack perfect eggs like Almut. Almut is nowhere to be found in this scene. This suggests that Almut has passed away due to her cancer, leaving Tobias and Ella alone with their dog. As devastating as it may seem, a sense of hope exists between these two characters  Although Almut is no longer present with her family, she achieved her dreams for herself that were beyond her illness. She was able to leave a lasting image to her daughter. 

“We Live In Time” doesn’t shy away from showing the true reality of being in a relationship. The ups and downs the couple face are grounded. Life is short, so it is worth spending time with the ones you cherish the most. Even with intimate scenes, love is portrayed in ways that can only be described as remarkably down to earth.