It was an emotional ride for all involved, as the world premiere of A24's We Live in Time lit the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 6, 2024. Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield aced the red carpet, but their on-screen chemistry stole the show.
We Live in Time follows the decade-long romance of a young chef, played by Pugh, and a recently divorced man, played by Garfield. It is a John Crowley movie with a screenplay by Nick Payne. As mushy as it gets building up the romance of the leads, they face the brutality of terminal illness.
It was a premiere of A-list feels, with Pugh in a pink gown and Garfield in a suit. They hit the red carpet joined by their director and cast members, per Deadline. With a limited release coming on October 11, 2024, We Live in Time has critics talking, which could mean awards season chatter ahead.
Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield's chemistry in We Live in Time
We Live in Time has brought together two of Hollywood's biggest stars, Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield; their chemistry is off the charts. The story begins with Almut hitting Tobias with her car, which gets them to the hospital and blooms in an unexpected romance.
As much as their relationship had some sweet moments, it was also burdened by Almut's cancer diagnosis. Pugh commits to this role, going so far as shaving her head to capture her character's arc on both physical and emotional levels.
Pugh mentioned a talk she had with Crowley, according to The Wrap:
"No one can play a character like this in a movie like this and not do the thing that is needed to be done."
Garfield's take on a man dealing with losing his partner feels very personal. He has previously talked about losing his mom to cancer in 2019.
"It’s one of those scripts where so much was taken care of already," Garfield shared during a post-screening Q&A per Variety.
He mentioned teaming up with Pugh helped him get a genuine spot in their scenes.
John Crowley's direction and Nick Payne's writing elevate We Live in Time
We Live in Time is directed by John Crowley and has a scattered storyline, following the ups and downs of life, just like love. Crowley previously directed Garfield in Boy A in 2007, and then in 2019, he helmed The Goldfinch.
Now, he's back at TIFF with a film that mixes laughs aplenty with heavy emotions. By telling the story out of order, Crowley allows the audience to piece together the couple's journey from fun times at the first encounter to tough times.
He told Variety that Garfield's performance was full of emotional depth:
"When I read the part, I thought instantly of him, partly because of the scale emotionally that he’s comfortable operating in."
Nick Payne is a British playwright known for his plays called Constellations. He penned a script that plunges into common universal themes of love, illness, and the passing of time. The film is not adapted from a book; it is original.
Where to watch We Live in Time?
We Live in Time opens in select theaters on October 11, 2024, reports Deadline. If it gains some steam during the award seasons, it'll expand wider.
It will stream on HBO Max after its time in theaters due to A24's deal with them.
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If the crowds at TIFF have seen anything, Pugh and Garfield shine in We Live in Time, making it an instant must-watch romantic drama movie for this year.
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