TIFF 2024: We Live In Time Review

This will be one of many reviews during this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, to keep up with our latest coverage, click here.

We Live in Time is the newest film from John Crowley, director of Brooklyn and The Goldfinch. The story follows Tobias (Garfield) and Almut (Pugh), two people who meet in an unexpected way and would soon start to fall in love. However, when Almut is suddenly diagnosed with cancer, their remaining time together becomes fleeting. As a result, making the most out of whatever time they had left, the couple decide to think positively and embrace the moments they had together instead of dreading the anguish that what was to come.

A delightful film, some may say that We Live in Time treads familiar ground in terms of the tragic romance subgenre, which it certainly does, but in spite of that, the film finds surprising avenues to make this romance feel fresh. Told in a nonlinear format, the story features three timelines interspersed throughout, illustrating the way that we as audiences perceive time. When looking back on a life spent, one hardly does so in a linear fashion as they merely pick up the highlights, be it the happy moments, hard moments or the confusing moments. This storytelling choice proved to make the film that much more impactful as by choosing what moments to focus on, watching the film play out feels like experiencing their memories along with them.

Garfield and Pugh are absolutely wonderful as Tobias and Almut. They have such wonderful chemistry with one another and their collective range allows them to hit the film’s humorous and dramatic moments so convincingly. Meanwhile, it does a great job juxtaposing these two emotions. What easily could have been a drag, watching two characters in the middle of grief knowing that their time is limited, the film’s central message is ultimately to appreciate and embrace the time one has left with their partner is a resonant one. That being said, while there are certainly sad moments to be had here, there are also plenty moments of joy and hope. One of the funnier films of the year so far, a witty script and great banter between Garfield and Pugh make for a lot of laugh out loud moments.

A big key for the film’s success is its great direction. Showing true craftsmanship behind the camera, what could have easily looked and sounded like a Hallmark movie was saved by filmmakers who knew what they were doing and worked tirelessly to find every single avenue to make it feel cinematic in scope and scale while also telling an intimate and personal story.

At the end of the day, We Live in Time is a sweeping and wonderfully-acted romance that will have no trouble finding an audience. One of the more accessible films A24 has in its catalog, this film is well on its way to becoming a surefire hit with not only critics but audiences.

still courtesy of A24/Sphere Films

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Brett Schutt

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