The best rom-com this season comes from a studio you’d never expect — the indie darling A24. They’ve rounded up two stars, Florence Pugh & Andrew Garfield, who own the hearts of fans worldwide, and created one of the most down-to-earth films of the year — and A24’s catalog. A meet-cute cheesy Valentine’s Day movie that shies away from spectacle and emphasizes the mundane.
The film opens with a recently divorced Andrew Garfield (Tobias) in a daze, wandering into the street where Florence Pugh (Almut) runs him over, thus beginning their story. The two, obviously, fall in love and take the audience on the many journeys of their relationship. We see the highs and lows of the pair’s life and their love prevailing and going through life taking all the punches thrown at them.
I found this film’s lighting spectacular. The natural lighting gives us a lived-in sense of the characters’ world. We see this when Tobias and their child Ella give Almut a haircut in the backyard, the shot bathed in the sunlight of a summer day. Another scene, shot from inside Tobias’ hotel room as he signs his divorce papers before meeting Almut, feels suffused with warmth thanks to the yellow bulbs in the desk lamp. The film’s lighting aids We Live In Time‘s verisimilitude. It feels so simple and easily achievable yet works beautifully with the story.
A24 does not shy away from the spectacle. We see this in films like Everything, Everywhere, All at Once where a similar dynamic is highlighted in the sense that this is a family of a mother, father, and daughter trying to complete simple tasks. In that film, things become a bit more chaotic and outlandish. With this one, we see no supernatural or horrific twist. The realistic pretensions of this movie feel akin to that of another A24 film Mid90s, a film focusing on young skaters. Film often ignores mundane, I feel, in service of escapism — but to me, I find it refreshing when something seems like you’re looking at someone’s real-life story, nothing epic or mesmerizing, just people living and appreciating life.
We Live in Time is a breath of fresh air for today’s filmgoers. In a world of extravagance, feeling as though a film is telling a genuine story gives the audiences a chance to look at their own lives and see the beauty in every little thing. It warmed my heart and stuck with me for a while after viewing. I recommend that you bring some tissues if you’re emotional like me. I gave this one a 4.5 out of 5. Definitely one I will revisit and look forward to sharing with others
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