‘Every day is a funny story’ is a strange thesis for a conventional movie worthy of a film festival, yet here we are in John Crowley’s We Live in Time, about two people who fall deeply in love. The lovers here are Tobias (Andrew Garfield), who works for Weetabix, and Almut (Florence Pugh), a multi hyphenate chef. The film’s first of two (?) acts travel back and forth as it depicts several moments of their eventful lives. Viewers see them deal with having their first baby as well as see them meet for the first time. Between those moments, we see them deal with Almut living with ovarian cancer, which isn’t easy to beat.

The big picture here is that this is a melodrama that has no shame in manipulating its common audiences. Things like this can go either way and on the surface, its comedy and charm absolutely won me over. Within that surface are interesting character choices within the screenplay that both Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh flesh out. Tobias’ corporate life is like one scene here and the rest is him being a reliable support system for Almut. The film does well in exposing Tobias’ tendencies to hover during the big health incidents that disrupts Almut’s life. We Live in Time also shows Almut’s reaction to his hovering which, people who love let a lot go.

There’s also an irony in We Live in Time where both look relatively the same despite it depicting a decade. I write relatively because, well, you know why. Although, upon further thought, irony’s a wrong word, because it fits the film’s concept of jumping through time. The only change is when the couple shaves off Almut’s hair, anticipating her hair loss which happens after chemotherapy. Otherwise, adult life is a long date, although the horse doesn’t show up too prominently in the final cut. Some people are young in perpetuity, having fun until life does something to stop that fun from its momentum. Almut is a memory to Tobias, the cold world warming up when people let go and live until the end.

Let’s go back to how We Live In Time‘s characterization, the way it sees Tobias’ personality, as while it sees Tobias as a set of traits, it sees Almut within the context of her life events. Almut is a mother and a chef, a former figure skater who tries to live with ovarian cancer. Ok fine it shows hers personality too, as kind of a dick but in ways that are also loveable. Maybe the most epic thing to happen to people is loving someone, if only for a short period of time. I already regret liking this movie but I also will defend it despite other nitpicks that are valid.