Director of “We Live in Time” Reveals How Scattered Timeline Added ‘Complexity’ to Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh’s Performance; Describes Film as an ‘Epic Within a Postcard Size’
We Live in Time is a touching and heartbreaking story about family, love, and loss spanning several decades. Director John Crowley decided to take a “nonlinear” approach to the film’s timeline, bringing depth to the plot. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, he shared insights into this creative choice.
Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield play Almut and Tobias, respectively, in the film. Their accidental meeting sparks a whirlwind romance that leads to marriage and parenthood. The story moves back and forth between different timelines, adding complexity to the narrative.
“The nonlinear aspect of the film added complexity, allowing us to explore different emotional tones and territory within a short span of time,” Crowley explained. This approach enriched the already meaty roles for the talented actors.
The film begins with Tobias and Almut with their young daughter before delving into their past, including the night they first met. The narrative weaves through key moments in their relationship, including Almut’s battle with cancer, her culinary success, and their life together.
Crowley’s vision was to intertwine three time frames – one across a day, one across six months, and one across five years – to capture the essence of a relationship built on shared memories. Each sequence is designed to feel essential to the overarching storyline.
Through fragmented memories and snapshots, the film explores the complexities of creating a life together. “We don’t live our lives in a particularly linear way… It’s about two people trying to create a life for themselves,” Crowley stated.
We Live in Time will have a limited theatrical release in the US on October 11.