I Finally Watched We Live In Time, And I Both Loved And Hated How The Story Ended For Florence Pugh’s Character

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Major Spoilers Ahead: If you’ve yet to watch We Live in Time, please proceed with caution.

There are certain films that you sense will significantly impact your life and become treasured favorites, yet somehow, you’re not quite ready to watch them. That was my experience with “We Live in Time,” starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh. I’ve been hesitant to press play since October, but last week, I finally gave myself permission to immerse myself in this deeply emotional romantic drama. To be honest, I’m grateful for the delay because I wasn’t prepared for the complex emotions I felt towards Almut’s storyline in the end.

The film produced by A24 is so moving that it’s hard not to shed tears while watching it. It tells the story of Almut, played by Pugh, and Tobias, portrayed by Garfield, who meet under unexpected circumstances – Almut accidentally hits Tobias with her car as he walks back from his hotel room to sign divorce papers. Despite this inauspicious start, they quickly become friends and soon find themselves caught up in a passionate romance. However, their relationship faces a significant challenge when Almut is diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Fortunately, the treatment proves effective, and they continue to live happily. They even have a daughter together, and Almut pursues her dream of becoming an exceptional chef in the region. Unfortunately, her cancer returns, leaving her at a crucial decision point: whether to undergo treatment again or to savor the time she has left.

At the start of the film, I was aware that Almut’s end would be her demise; however, I was not prepared for the mix of emotions I’d feel about the way it unfolded – a blend of admiration and disgust.

I Loved That Almut’s Death Wasn’t Physically Shown

One thing that stood out positively in “We Live in Time” was their decision to avoid depicting Almut’s death on screen. It’s common for films about terminal illness to require viewers to watch the main character deteriorate, which can be emotionally taxing. I had assumed the same would happen with Almut, but the creative team took a different approach instead.

Rather than succumbing to a state of frailty and bedridden existence towards the end, Almut managed to spend her final days with grace and dignity. She initially pursued treatment but continued to live life fully as well. In this journey, she cherished time with her family and participated in a significant culinary competition, leaving behind an important memory for her young daughter.

Ultimately, Almut’s passing occurs off-camera, sparing us from witnessing a poignant funeral scene where Tobias and his family must grapple with their grief over Almut. Instead, the film concludes on a more uplifting note, as Tobias instructs their daughter in the same egg-cracking method that Almut once taught him. In this way, although she’s no longer physically present, her essence continues to thrive.

But I Hate That She Had To Die At All

Although the ending was heartwarming, I found myself reluctant that it transpired. In some sense, it seemed avoidable or unnecessary. Allow me to elaborate.

The first time Almut receives a diagnosis, she’s presented with two choices: opt for a complete hysterectomy to ensure the cancer never returns again, or have the affected ovary surgically removed. Almut decides on the latter option as it is less intrusive and preserves her possibility of having a biological child in the future.

If she had opted for a complete hysterectomy at the time of her initial diagnosis, she wouldn’t have developed ovarian cancer again. While it would have prevented her from naturally giving birth to Ella, she and Tobias could have explored other options for having children. Additionally, Almut could have continued participating in the entire culinary competition without interruption.

Absolutely, looking back is often crystal clear (20/20 vision), and Almut wasn’t aware that her cancer would come back so forcefully just three years after achieving remission. As a spectator, I couldn’t help but feel sadness for the life she might have lived if she had chosen differently at the outset.

We Live in Time is available to stream with an active Max subscription.

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2025-02-21 04:08