When Almut (Florence Pugh) accidentally runs over recently divorced Tobias (Andrew Garfield) with her car they begin a relationship and fall in love. But then a cancer diagnosis for Almut will force them to make some decisions about how to get the most from their time together and what to focus on.

We Live In Time avoids the cliché of being just another “cancer” movie coming out of Hollywood via the manner in which it tells its story and the simple fact that it has two of the best actors currently working. Rather than tell its story chronologically, writer Nick Payne has chosen to tell the story by jumping around the narrative. For example, before we see how the couple met we see them being told of the cancer diagnosis and before we see them having a forthright conversation about whether they want children we see their daughter. This narrative choice means that we are constantly kept on our toes about what will happen next and understanding how messy relationships can be. But you will never be lost as to when we are in the story thanks to Almut’s changing hairstyles, pregnancy bump and the fact that sometimes they have a daughter. Then we have Garfield and Pugh who deliver an incredibly believable romance. Garfield’s Tobias who works as a data steward for Weetabix is sensitive and very good at jotting notes to keep his mind in order. Pugh’s Almut is an extremely competitive chef who faces the conundrum of both how the world and her daughter will see her after she is gone.

The result is a film that manages to be life affirming, funny and very dramatic. It nails the romance between Almut and Tobias and moments such as the first time they spend the night together and when they are doing pregnancy tests really capture the feelings at those crucial moments in time.

Personally I was enthralled throughout. The performances and presentation made me feel personally invested in Almut and Tobias’ lives and I was moved to laughter and tears. Pugh and Garfield deliver as a believable couple with moments you can relate to and aspire to.