We Live in Time is a 2024 romantic comedy-drama film directed by John Crowley, with a screenplay by Nick Payne. The movie stars Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh. It made its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2024, and is set for release in the United Kingdom by StudioCanal on January 1, 2025.
The film features a deliberately nonlinear script. It begins with a severe cancer diagnosis for Pugh’s character, Almut, who faces an agonizing choice: six months of a fulfilling life versus a year of gruelling chemotherapy with uncertain outcomes. From there, the narrative, penned by Nick Payne, weaves through various timelines in the lives of Tobias (played by Garfield) and Almut, focusing on different stages of their relationship. The story explores the aftermath of Almut’s cancer returning and her decision to secretly enter a cooking competition as a final professional achievement, a choice she conceals from Tobias to spare him additional worry.
Garfield and Pugh Shine in We Live in Time
Florence Pugh delivers an electrifying performance as a young woman striving to balance her personal relationships with her professional aspirations. Andrew Garfield, in what might be a career-defining role, uses Tobias’ natural restraint to reveal layers of deep, intense emotion. Together, they ensure that this complexly woven story captures the whirlwind of emotions and gratitude we feel as time relentlessly moves forward.
During a discussion following the world premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, Garfield reflected on working with director John Crowley and described the film as a collection of life experiences—personal loss, love, and growth.
Garfield also expressed how fortunate he and the entire crew felt to infuse their personal and intimate experiences into the film’s narrative. He shared that the process was therapeutic for the cast and crew of We Live in Time and expressed hope that the film would have a similar effect on audiences.
