Rating: 4.5/5 stars

The film goes back — and — forth between past and present as we watch the two main characters fall in love, raise a family and deal with Almut’s (Pugh) diagnosis of ovarian cancer. “We Live in Time” is not afraid to delve into the unglamorous side of life, with Tobias, played by Garfield, coming off a divorce to the way the characters meet in less than ideal circumstances. 

Garfield and Pugh’s acting abilities shine throughout the movie. While one watches, their emotions feel real, truly encapsulating what it is to love and fight for love. Through the ups and downs of life, the two love each other and the audience can feel the joy and unconditional love the pair have for each other. Without these actors playing the characters, the movie would probably not feel as strong and genuine. 

Pugh is not afraid to explore harsh themes, even previously working with A24 in “Midsommar.” Pugh is full of life and her honesty in her roles allows for one to fall in love with her on and off screen. Her portrayal of cancer and the complexities of motherhood and the autonomy of a mother was so honest and she was not afraid to have uncomfortable conversations in the film which made the movie more heartfelt and heartbreaking all at once. 

The jumps in time felt like a vital part of the storytelling of the film. A24 loves to break from the typical mold of films and “We Live in Time” is no exception. While typical illness stories follow a straightforward, chronological narrative, “We Live in Time” flips in and out of the cancer and love narrative. Even the ending tried something different and less “in your face” but still left audiences with tears in their eyes. The simplicity of the storytelling made it that much more impactful and the message felt more important because of this decision. 

Because of the hard conversations and fights during the film, the beautiful and touching moments feel more impactful, which shows the main message of the film that life and time are short and precious. Seeing the raw way humans deal with the concept of the shortness and thief of time, allows for the idea of the preciousness of love and life to blossom throughout the film. 

Pugh and Garfield’s acting truly encompass the message and the complexities of illness in life. They truly put a lot into this film and one could feel the heart that the actors put into their roles and the importance of the message they were telling. 

“We Live in Time” is a beautiful and heart-wrenching story about life and illness, not afraid to break molds and tell stories in different ways, the film focuses more on the person rather than the illness and how illness will never define a person, but rather the life and love they lived and felt.

Image via A24.com