“We Live in Time” tells a beautiful story about the ups and downs of love

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Time is actually a flat circle.

Summary

Told in a non-linear way, We live in time explores the relationship of the couple Almut (Florence Pugh) and Tobias (Andrew Garfield) at different stages of their lives. Throughout their lives, their love is constantly tested, from the beginning of their relationship to the birth of a child to Almut’s cancer diagnosis and the search for meaning in life.

My thoughts

Tragic love stories are stories as old as time. Unless it’s a comedy or superhero movie, the romance usually ends in some sort of disaster. Whether it’s about a breakup, a moving away, or the death of one of the characters, it seems like most movie novels are doomed to failure. Well, I guess if you don’t want to make the audience laugh or show them superheroes saving the girl, you have to get your conflict from somewhere.

One of the most common ways a filmmaker introduces high stakes into the equation is by having one of the characters suffer from a terminal illness, usually cancer. It makes sense to be used as a plot point so often since it is a disease that affects millions of people and their families around the world. It’s something that many people can relate to, but unfortunately some filmmakers can’t help but make the plot cheesy and emotionally manipulative.

A sure directing hand

If there’s one director who has proven he can give audiences compelling character drama and romance, it’s John Crowley. He directed Brooklyna disarmingly charming film that was one of the best of 2015. It was the story of an Irish immigrant who finds love and independence in 1950s America, a premise that could easily go wrong in the wrong hands.

Considering it’s about a couple struggling with a cancer diagnosis, We live in time It could have been stupid to fall into the wrong hands. Thankfully, Crowley and screenwriter Nick Payne wisely sidestep any pitfalls by giving us a film that explores the ups and downs of a relationship with breathtaking authenticity. It’s a real mix of heartbreak, joy and everything in between.

Sure, there are of course some very emotional scenes that bring tears to the actors’ eyes, but it never feels like they, Crowley or Payne are laying it on too thick. These are exactly the kind of conversations you would imagine a couple discussing such important topics. Everything around We live in time feels like it comes from the heart.

Another similarity We live in time must Brooklyn is that it is often surprisingly hilarious. When you least expect it, the characters say a certain line or perform a certain interaction that surprises you with a laugh. The comedy never undermines the drama but rather emphasizes it, especially because much of it is so relatable to many demographics.

Days of future past

What helps We live in time Among the romantic drama series, the non-linear narrative by screenwriter Nick Payne stands out. Instead of having an hour of feel-good moments before a bomb is suddenly dropped on the characters, the bomb is dropped right at the beginning, even though it’s technically at the end of the story. Almut’s cancer is at the heart of the story, with Crowley and Payne making sure we never forget it, even if the characters sometimes don’t realize it.

As the story focuses on Almut and Tobias in their early days, they are unaware of the ticking clock that means Almut’s cancer looms over them. However, the audience knows, so these scenes are all the harder when we know the difficulties the characters will face later. It’s like a nostalgic memory where we try to just remember the good times and ignore all the negativity around us.

The clock ticks differently in all three timelines. Will the relationship work out? Will they have a healthy and happy baby? Although we know the answers to these questions when we see the couple in the present, that doesn’t make these scenes in the past any less moving. They know they can do everything and have a child, but the journey to the destinations is the most important thing.

This non-linear narrative device was a little confusing at first, but after about 15 minutes I was able to understand what Crowley and Payne were cooking. While it overall made the film much better than a traditional narrative would have, the biggest story element gets a little lost in the sauce.

Speaking of cooking sauce, Almut is a chef and wants to compete in the Bocuse d’Or, also known as the “Culinary Olympics,” as a final attempt to leave a legacy in her life and give her daughter someone to be proud of after she dies. Huge chunks of time go by without that plot point, and when we got to the end of the movie and it was the big climax, I thought, “Oh yeah, that competition she wants to enter.” Even though I sometimes forgot that element , it’s just as emotionally powerful as any other tear-jerking sequence.

Ten years are behind you

It must have been a huge undertaking to write and edit all of this without it ending up completely incoherent. Crowley and editor Justine Wright keep everything moving at a brisk pace, knowing the right times to switch back and forth between timelines. Again, the format doesn’t always work, but it works enough to tell the story in this unique way. Every emotional hit you’re supposed to feel comes through and feels earned.

Production designer Alice Normington, costume designer Liza Bracey, and hair and makeup designer Ivana Primorac clearly had their hands full making sure each timeline felt clear and distinct. Primorac even seems to have taken some notes Little women If you want Florence Pugh to look younger, just give her bangs!

Jokes aside, the three put a lot of effort into developing the characters and depicting specific moments in their lives so that the audience never gets too lost. We’ve been following these characters for over a decade, so we expect them to mature and change things about themselves. It could be the clothes they wear, the way they style their hair, or the evolution of their home environment from apartments to houses; Visually telling the audience what time it is for the characters is no easy task.

There is a minimalist score by Bryce Dessner, but it never gets in the way of the drama. There are no swelling instruments or sad musical sounds to tug at your heartstrings. It’s only there when it’s needed, and it’s executed with the same subtlety as the rest of the film. Sometimes you don’t need music when it’s pure emotion.

Stand the test of time

Naturally, We live in time wouldn’t have the greatest impact without some of the best actors in the business playing against each other. Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield are great as Almut and Tobias, building a relationship that extends beyond the screen. The love they have for each other is clear in the scene where they first meet and there is instant chemistry and a connection.

It’s a testament to the acting talent of Pugh and Garfield and the depth they bring to these two characters. Even though they set them in three different time periods that keep switching back and forth, they always have a good sense of what time period the characters are in. Whether they’re falling in love for the first time or have been together for a decade, both actors know exactly what headspace the characters need to be in at any given moment.

How Little womenAnother multi-timeline story, Pugh shows incredible depth in showing the growth and maturity of her characters. Given Almut’s complex, tragic history, she feels like a full person who is very proud to leave a legacy. Garfield is also great, although Tobias’ character is far more reserved and reserved.

Final verdict

We live in time ends with a perfect final scene that sums up what the entire film is about. It’s one of the sweetest, most touching moments I’ve seen in a long time, and it’s devoid of any melodrama or flash. It’s just a simple scene with no music, no dialogue. Just pure emotional, visual storytelling.

You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll be annoyed or annoyed at some of the characters and their selfish decisions, but hey, that’s life, right? It’s about finding the best in each other and your own situations while doing your best to enjoy it to the fullest, despite what it throws at you. Life in time is full of ups and downs.

My rating: 8.5/10

We live in time hits theaters nationwide on Friday, October 18th.

Do you see a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.

Do you have a photo or video of a recent news story? Send it to us here with a short description.