TIFF Review: ‘We Live in Time’ Finds Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh Bringing You to Tears

I’m a sucker for a tearjerker when the emotional manipulation is done well. When it’s too artificial, I can revolt, but if it feels natural and earned, I almost always roll a tear when intended to do so. As such, it probably won’t surprise you to learn that We Live in Time made me cry. It may surprise you to learn that I resisted for much of the runtime, though when the serious sad moments hit, I was knocked over. As one of the higher profile world premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival this year, I don’t think it’s entering the Oscar race in any notable manner, but I do think that the movie is going to find an ample amount of fans.

We Live in Time tells a very conventional romantic drama in a very unconventional way. By not following any sort of a linear timeline, we sort of drift in and out of the lives of our couple, seeing the early and later days of their love. Initially, it feels like a random storytelling device just for the sake of being different, but by the end, the power of it all does land with effectiveness.

This is the story of Tobias (Andrew Garfield) and Almut (Florence Pugh), a recent divorcée and an emerging chef. Told out of sequence and almost as one long montage, we get to see their love story. Brought together by a surprising accident, they begin a partnership that surprises them both. Almut is far more of a loose cannon than the buttoned up Tobias, but they make a good match. Initially, they’re not in total agreement about children, but the quest to become parents will take up a significant portion of their union. Unfortunately, so too will be a recurrence of ovarian cancer for her, which brings a sense of inevitable tragedy to the proceedings.

As we see these scenes play out, we learn about their failures, successes, and gain a deeper understanding of their life. They’re good people, though not without flaws. It’s only once we get towards the end and these essentially memories have stacked up that a true sense of what we’re watching begins to emerge.

Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh absolutely demolish this material, singlehandedly elevating the entire picture. Garfield plays Tobias as a good hearted and kind man, though one prone to passive aggressive moments with the woman he loves. It’s deeply charming work, which keeps the character from ever seeming bland. Pugh gets the more demanding part to play but unsurprisingly aces it. The way she deals with her illness, as well as her reasons for needing to continue focusing on her work even as her health is deteriorating, it will certainly resonate. She’s the one who cracked me and brought me to tears. It’s a beautiful performance. They have a wonderful chemistry together, allowing you to buy into the premise and feel for their love. This is Garfield and Pugh’s show, but the cast also includes small parts for Lee Braithwaite, Grace Delaney, and more.

Director John Crowley and writer Nick Payne are committed to the unconventional storytelling device, and it eventually pays off. Initially, it keeps you at arms length, preventing the audience from fully connecting. For me, there came a moment in the third act that really broke me, and from then on, I was in tears and along for the ride. Once that groove hits, you realize that the structure does resemble how you remember a loved one, and for yours truly, that was emotional and downright powerful.

We Live in Time never becomes a great film, but once it settles in, it does become a good one. Hell, I ugly cried, so it must be achieving its tearjerker goals. I know I was far from the only one who sobbed here at TIFF, so if you’re looking for a good cry, this is a movie to pay attention to.

SCORE: ★★★