We live in time and love without regret

A new look at a love story that ended prematurely due to illness. We live in time gives us a realistic and bittersweet insight into what it means to love without regrets. Its genuine interactions and non-linear plot create beautiful relationships through the characters’ efforts towards each other rather than their tragic premise.

We live in time follows Almut Brühl, a chef with a passion for his craft, and Tobias Duran, a divorced woman who lives a lethargic life every day. They meet when Almut accidentally hits Tobias with his car and they begin a quick and idyllic romance in the Surrey countryside. However, Almut is soon diagnosed with ovarian cancer, forcing her and Tobias to choose between health and happiness.

Almut and Tobias’ romance feels compelling, not so much because of Almut’s impending death, but because they give themselves completely to their moments together. No matter how mundane the situation may be, they are both fully present. For example, after Almut and Tobias’ first night together, Tobias awkwardly says that he should leave and Almut asks why. He replies that he really has nothing to do and asks her the same – she is also free.

Rather than sticking to Tobias’ vague ideas of a typical romantic progression, Almuth takes the opportunity to take him around the village farmers market and they spend the day with each other. In this scene and throughout the film, the two characters make the most of each other’s presence – they interact in a way that they won’t regret.

Almuth and Tobias’ dynamic stands in stark contrast to many other rom-com couples because the genre tends to use fateful encounters or dramatic statements to illustrate someone’s feelings for the other person. While these images provide some excitement, they do not reflect the usual interactions of the main characters. Almut and Tobias’ romance feels familiar and raw, far from a deliberate performance.

The film relies on a sense of authenticity that emerges from Almut and Tobias’ awkward moments and sighs of relief, in addition to the more plot-driven sequences. After their first date goes well, we see a shot from the side of Almut’s closed door, with Tobias sighing contentedly on one side and Almut covering his face to blush on the other. If they speak at the same time, they both let the other person speak first, and since Tobias has difficulty speaking at the moment, he sometimes writes down his thoughts on paper before telling them to Almut.

The characters also seem much more genuine than if their story were simply told through romantic montages and polished dialogue. Even though their romantic development is short-lived, they feel safe and comfortable with each other. Their connection seems to be based on more than just the urgency surrounding Almut’s illness, and in turn, the scenes that do focus on mortality carry more weight.

When the characters approach the topic of Almut’s death, she makes it clear that her version of living without regrets includes living for herself as well as her relationship with Tobias. One of the film’s central conflicts is that Almuth wants to lead a life that doesn’t revolve around her illness, such as continuing to work at the restaurant or stopping chemotherapy. Although Tobias is often strongly against this, We live in time beams because he ultimately supports her. Having accepted Almuth’s decision to stop treatment, he tells her that he respects her decision to spend “six… amazing, fantastic, active months (rather than 12 really, really passive ones”), and invites her to fulfill both of their conditions. wishes.

In addition to the plot, the non-linear narrative gives the film a sense of authenticity. The jumps forward and back in time mimic the way Almuth and Tobias recall memories of each other, suggesting that because they remember each other through memories, the characters live full lives during each interaction.

We live in time is a short but sweet look at life and love that makes the main characters feel like real people rather than actors in a drama. It’s a heartfelt reminder that our relationships don’t have to be filled with storylines as long as we make the most of our time with each other.