Since we started getting glimpses of Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield on the press tour for We Live In Time a couple of months ago, I’ve been excited to watch them both on screen. It’s perhaps my most anticipated film of the year, especially when you consider that this was the film Pugh famously shaved her head for. As a romance fan, a good love story is totally up my street, and the more devastating and heartbreaking, the better. From their interviews together, you can tell that the pair have a palpable chemistry and are fond of each other off-screen. I was quietly hopeful that this would be reflected in the film. And I was not disappointed.

My first tear fell about 15 minutes in and did not stop until the lights came on in the cinema.

Directed by John Crowley, We Live In Time follows Almut (Pugh), a witty, unstoppable chef, and Tobias (Garfield), recently divorced and finding his way in the world, as a chance encounter changes their lives. Through snapshots of their life together and a lot of time-hopping, the audience gets to explore the evolution of their relationship, culminating in a difficult truth that rocks their foundation.

Without spoiling too much of the film, the story revolves around Almut’s ovarian cancer and the decisions that follow her first and second diagnoses. This is revealed relatively early on in the film, when Almut and Tobias are talking about the future in the hospital parking lot. Here, she tells Tobias that she’s “not particularly interested in a treatment plan that accidentally wastes our time” and would rather have “six amazing, fantastic, proactive months than 12 really, really passive ones”.

As much as the story is about navigating terminal illness, We Live In Time has a deeply moving love at the heart of it. There are moments in the film that made me audibly gasp at how real and relatable their relationship felt, which Pugh and Garfield’s chemistry only amplified. There’s one scene, early on in their relationship, where Tobias watches Almut from across the room at a party and catches her eye, resulting in a silent and loving recognition between the two of them. A knowing look that many of us have likely shared with our partners in social settings.

In another scene, where Tobias and Almut are arguing about having kids, Tobias says: “I’m worried there’s a very distinct and real possibility that I am about to fall in love with you.” Cue more tears.

Due to the projects they’ve worked on, Garfield and Pugh rarely have the space to show off the romantic and comedic sides of their acting. But in We Live In Time, they have an abundance of space. Pugh, in particular, is a brilliant romantic lead for a modern-day love story, playing a woman reluctant to define herself as only a mother or a partner. And Garfield has proven once again that he’s an incredibly talented actor, especially when it comes to his non-verbal acting. There is no single pivotal scene that highlights the pair’s performance, but plenty of little ones that keep you hooked.

We Live In Time is a big, emotional romance that ripped my heart apart, something that I feel has been missing from the world of films for a few years. It’s a classic tearjerker but brought into the modern age of dating and relationships. It’s been a long time since I cried solidly through a film (and then had to nip to the bathroom afterwards to sort myself out), and I’m already excited to watch this film all over again.

We Live In Time is out in UK cinemas now

Images: A24