'We Live in Time', the romantic drama of the season?

We Live in Time (John Crowley - 2024) is a romantic melodrama starring Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield that will open in theaters between the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025. It tells the story of Almut (Pugh) and Tobias (Garfield) in anachrony, which means that the chronological order of events is altered. This shared story will last approximately ten years, beginning with their fortuitous meeting after a traffic accident and ending some time after Almut's death from cancer.

The film's strong aspect is the actors' chemistry, which is evident for much of the film. Garfield is a touch subdued, and while he does stand out in a few of scenes, he is always more contained and feels misused by his character. Florence Pugh, who shines far above, has a broader and more intriguing character, conflicted and complex, who is also in a difficult circumstance. She handles it admirably, like a great actress should. Without a question, she is one of her generation's best actresses.

Another possible strong feature of the picture is the aforementioned narrative anachronism, which, on a technical level, can be properly employed to add drama, excitement, or complexity to the plot, or it can be a distraction or confusing technique when the writer realizes his script does not have much to say. In this case, it appeared to be a middle ground: on occasion, the narrative disorder of this script manages to add moderate interest to the story by overlapping distantly timed moments and allowing the viewer to make comparisons or experience more intense emotional ups and downs.

However, there are a few instances where it appears gratuitous, unnecessary, or artificial, and it adds nothing special other than confusing or disorienting the viewer, giving the impression of misusing the narrative tool or even that the disorder was created in editing in a nearly random manner. We'll leave its use at decent.

In terms of the dramatic plot itself, there is nothing new under the sun, yet it is also not unpleasant or jarring. A girl and a boy meet casually, a beautiful relationship develops, a minor obstacle is overcome without too many problems due to the special love they feel for each other, a dramatic cancer appears, which she overcomes after much suffering and leads to a pregnancy, childbirth, a precious girl is born and grows up, balancing work and family life, and finally, the cancer reappears, resulting in the death of Almut's character. A brief ending, and life continues; we must seize the precious moments it provides because we never know when they will be the last.

As previously stated, nothing groundbreaking will throw you off your seat, but nothing horrible either. In fact, several of those cliché moments are resolved with cunning and elegance by the director and the writer, as well as, as I previously said, by a good pair of performers capable of bearing a significant emotional weight in their gazes. Thus, one watches the 107 minutes of the film without any problem and with a certain enjoyment.

Crowley has already demonstrated technical talent and a sophisticated style in the award-winning film Brooklyn (2015). Also in Closed Circuit (2013), and Boy A (2007). No complaints: a very clean and attractive visual design, glossy photography, and music by Bryce Dessner, guitarist of the outstanding rock group The National, which in fact is reminiscent in several of the melodic passages.

In conclusion, We Live in Time will not be remembered as one of the great romantic dramas (it may find a good place in the subgenre of romantic dramas with terminal illness), but I am confident that it will appeal to a large portion of the audience due to its lead couple, a melodramatic story that works well for the majority of its runtime, and its good aesthetic taste.