“Living in the Moment” review: a love story destined to become a phenomenon

Live in the momentcan very easily fall into a melodramatic and banal romance. After all, this John Crowley film tells the story of a deeply in love couple who survive a dramatic bout of cancer. But Nick Payne’s script makes the brilliant decision to turn the plot into a meditation on everyday love. So your first few minutes, which can be confusing, but then they make sense – they seek to clarify this point of view.

Almut (Florence Pugh) is a chef full of ideas, energy and a strange sense of humor. So her relationship with Tobias (Andrew Garfield, who seems born for this role) is full of extraordinary moments. Their life together is made up of fun conversations, small and big discoveries as a couple, as well as deep mutual devotion. Unlike other stories in which the possibility of death is a hidden theme, Live in the moment she is much more interested in showing that every experience matters. It doesn’t matter what happens next or what fear the future holds. The film has an optimistic tone that is neither naive nor artificial.

In fact, much of the effectiveness of the argument is based on using the idea of ​​everyday love to justify its destructive structure. So the film moves through the different moments of the pair of main characters – some tragic, some simple, most devastating – in a sort of convoluted chronology. While the beginning is hard to follow—and perhaps that’s one of the film’s downsides—the truth is that the script manages to weave all of its moments together into a cohesive idea. What would you do to be happy at the worst moment of your life?

Holiday of adult romance

As strange as it may seem, having a similar premise, Live in the moment It is not at all pessimistic, preachy or depressing. Until then, the plot strives to show that life together is full of all sorts of uncategorizable moments. The director succeeds Live in the momentIt’s not just a story of a marriage facing a painful future (which it is, to a certain extent), but despite that, there are joys to be shared. Many of the best scenes in the film create a tone of sour hope that is very unusual for films of this style. But also think about the fact that no life is perfect or should be.

This gives the film a maturity and depth that is gripping in its best moments. Moving away from the possibility of wallowing in a tragedy that he does not hide – Almut’s cancer diagnosis appears in the first scenes -, Live in the momentstrives to be honest and touching. And he achieves this by taking his characters to their highest and most difficult moments almost simultaneously. From motherhood to the moment when the main character is faced with the possibility of death. to the professional triumphs and daily life of the young couple.

Live in the moment He makes people laugh and cry with ease. The amazing thing is that both emotions can be experienced sequentially. Thanks to the unique chronology of the script, the film seems to simultaneously tell about the most important moments of a life full of light and, at the same time, pain. So, the emotions that overwhelm each of the three time frames of the film, It becomes more realistic as it is full of nuances and dark moments.

Two actors at their best

But what’s really surprising about the film are its main characters. Both Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield strive to expand their characters beyond the love they profess. What they achieve is to imbue their performances with a deep understanding of their characters’ journeys between the worst and the best of their lives. It’s not an easy formula – and there are times when the film can’t sustain its strange pacing – but the performing duo have a keen understanding of the subtle nuances of their roles.

As she battles cancer and motherhood, Almut is filled with joy, anger and sadness. Everything was mixed up in the possibility of dying, but also in her conviction to continue, despite the certainty that overwhelmed her. On the other hand, Tobias is trying to cope not only with the possibility of widowhood, but at the same time with the fear of the dramatic future that may await him. Live in the momentfinds its best moments by being completely honest when describing its characters. None of them are either heroes or martyr to their pain. Before this, these are two adults who They are looking for a foothold to continue.

Emotional, touching and deep, Live in the moment This is a story that includes many more ideas about love than you might expect. From the need for comfort, the search for purpose, to the decision to live despite a seemingly inexorable diagnosis. The truth is that the film is much more than romance. It is also a reflection of modern love in all its beauty and honesty. And the joy of love, despite the difficulties and disappointments that a long-term relationship can bring. This is the best and sweetest moment.