We Live in Time

Tropic Sprockets by Ian Brockway

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Though it is of a somewhat overused genre, “We Live in Time” is an affectionate and emotive romantic comedy despite its predictable handling. Helmed by director John Crowley (“Brooklyn”), the film is authentic and engaging, sure to produce tears.

Tobias (Andrew Garfield) is an advertising man, bereft by divorce. Almut (Florence Pugh) is an ambitious chef driven by her independence.

One night, a miserable and distracted Tobias gets hit by a car. Almut is the driver.

Either by divine fate or just luck, the two commence in a relationship even though, Almut has no intention of being amorous. The sensitive Tobias is irresistible. Tobias and Almut compromise both of them bending just a bit to make the relationship work. Tobias is a one of a kind man in many respects for his willingness to adapt. But when Almut is diagnosed with stage three cancer, things become conflicted and full of drama. Almut intends to put her career ahead of her diagnosis.

The intriguing part of the film is that it is structured in various sequences, forward and backward and taken from the middle. It is a kind of Rubik’s Cube portrait of a relationship. This builds suspense. One is not quite sure what will happen next.

While it’s true that the film includes the time-honored ingredients of joy, mystery, resentment and acceptance, each segment one sees is full of meaning and a hint of the unknown. Every part of the film merges into a harmonious picture of two people, a man and a woman within love’s adventure.

The ending will be expected to devoted fans of the genre, but actors Garfield and Pugh deliver with such verve and honesty that their clarity and empathy upstage any cliche or convention.

Write Ian at ianfree11@yahoo.com