A romantic drama that looks into the weight of expectations and how modern life can be both thrilling and challenging, We Live in Time is a charming and surprisingly funny film portraying the ups and downs of a relationship with a pair of phenomenal performances by Garfield and Pugh.
Described as a love letter to London, the film beautifully captures the city through the unfolding story of Tobias and Almut, where from Herne Hill to Brockwell Park, the film depicts the charm and beauty of these locales among the couple’s relationship. The non-linear narrative benefits the film and the romantic relationship it depicts between the two central characters, as it is able to contrast the different events of their lives to effective results, from the fleeting moments to the impactful ones, a well-rounded relationship is at the center of this film.
The script is tender and organic in depicting the lives of the characters, from the central romance to the various obstacles resulting in conflict where the dialogue between characters exhibits seamless wit and an amiable quality. While not a comedy in any right, the film is filled with various comedic and light-hearted moments from depicting the times of a budding romance to the affectionate and humourous first years of raising a child, there are plenty of scenes and lines which are filled with laughs and played for humour. This is contrasted with the arc of Almut’s cancer diagnosis and the conflict that arises between her demanding professional life and family life, where these impactful events are written with an empathetic and profound perspective to the characters, even if it can sometimes veer into the cloyingly sentimental.
Garfield and Pugh’s collaboration is truly a feat and a collective performance as a married couple grappling with the various complications that arise among life. Often when actors are cast alongside each other to reflect a romantic or familial bond, this can make or break a film which strives to portray this relationship as realistic relying on genuine chemistry between the actors. Despite the film falling into some melodramatic trappings, both actors are exceptional in depicting this relationship where watching them on screen together and the dynamic that they have throughout the various stages of their life is magnetic and so pleasing to watch.
BFI LFF # 7
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