On the blustery afternoon of the 27th January, I watched We Live in Time at Ludlow Assembly Rooms. It’s a nostalgic and unfeigned film depicting the struggles and joys of life. As one audience member said to me: “It was a very moving film. It’s a lot more realistic than some of the other films I’ve seen.”
A lingering thought that stuck with me long after watching We Live in Time is the bittersweet realisation that life continues on. Life continues on, no matter what you do or don’t do. Even when you want it to stop and pause for a moment, it continues on regardless. However, with this, comes the realisation of how those weird, odd, or embarrassing moments you engage in can become beautiful memories that are remembered and reminisced on long after the moment passes.
It’s also bizarre and slightly scary to realise how short of a time we actually have to live the lives we want, not knowing how much of it we have left. On the flip side, knowing how much time you have left puts a different kind of pressure on making the choice between spending it as best we can or extending the time we have left. As harrowingly expressed by Almut – a talented chef played by Florence Pugh – to her partner Tobias (Andrew Garfield): “I want six f**king amazing, proactive months with you rather than twelve passive ones.”
Overall, I was impressed with the cinematography and the candid quality of acting I experienced in this film. The interactions of the characters with their environment and each other created an unusual experience unlike any I have come across before. Paired with the soundtrack, reminiscent of the time it’s set, We Live in Time is a beautifully and thoughtfully shot film, highly reflective of the way memories are experienced. One moment you're in the present. Next you're looking back on the past. Then you’re back in the present. It was an unusual way to structure a film but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
One thing I love in films are cyclical endings and We Live in Time did not disappoint. The ending of the film left me with questions, but also wordlessly answered ones I had as well, drawing back on things previously said earlier on in the film and left most of the audience chuckling through their tears.
Despite the film’s overarching themes of tragedy, loss and terminal illness, it might also distract from what I believe are the main themes. We Live in Time is a film about the power of hope, the beauty and tragedy of ambition, and the nitty-gritty of love in all forms.
We Live in Time is in UK cinemas now. Warning: Due to the nature of the film, some scenes may be distressing to some viewers such as themes of cancer, a graphic birth, sex, and emetophobia.
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