We Live in Time is a movie that follows the love story of Almut (Florence Pugh) and Tobias (Andrew Garfield) over a span of more than ten years. The couple meets by chance and the film shows how they find meaning in their time together after realizing that life is short.
Director John Crowley told Backstage that the purpose of the film is to show how two people handle their time together when they are aware that life won’t last forever. Florence Pugh shared with Vanity Fair that the script, written by Nick Payne, reminded her of classic romantic films like Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, and Love Actually.
The movie is the latest release from A24, the film studio behind some of the best-known films of the past decade, like Everything Everywhere All At Once, Midsommar, Lady Bird, and Moonlight. As with many of A24’s films, this romantic comedy focuses on aesthetic and style.
The story is very British and was filmed in London and Surrey, with an emphasis on capturing a real couple’s world instead of something too polished. We’ve looked at the filming locations that helped bring the touching (and emotional) story to life.
The movie, which was released on January 1, 2025, could be a great way to begin your cultural year, but prepare yourself for some strong emotions.
Herne Hill, Brockwell Park
We Live in Time was filmed in Herne Hill, a leafy area in southeast London. Even though it’s close to the busier parts of the city, Herne Hill has a village-like atmosphere, making it popular with couples and young families. It’s also a beautiful setting for the romantic story.
Director John Crowley explained that they wanted to show a London that was authentic and allowed the happiness and sadness of the couple to take center stage. Some of the specific locations in Herne Hill include the station and the famous Brockwell Park.
The movie’s poster is a still from scenes filmed at a fairground on a winter evening, although the exact location of the fairground scene is not known.
We Live in Time Filming Locations: Where was the Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield starrer filmed?John worked with production designer Alice Normington, who is known for Suffragette and Nowhere Boy, to create a genuine world for Almut and Tobias.
John said, “We talked a lot about how certain places become part of your DNA,” and praised Alice for her work not just on the couple’s home and work spaces but also on the important, everyday places in the film, such as roads, gas stations, and convenience stores, which reflect modern urban life.
Surrey
Like many families today, the young couple decides to leave London for a quieter life in the countryside. They move to Hascombe near Godalming to raise their growing family and enjoy a more peaceful lifestyle. Hascombe represents the charm of the British countryside, known for its cozy cottages and breathtaking views of the Surrey Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
This location is especially meaningful to Andrew Garfield, who grew up in the area. He said, “I was brought up in Surrey, where we shot, and it kind of renegotiated my relationship to my home county, which I wanted to leave as soon as I was able to pursue my dream of being an actor.”
Garfield continued, “But going back there I was like, ‘damn, I have to admit to my father that actually, it’s alright down here. It’s beautiful.’
I love that this is not a tourist’s Britain that you’re seeing in the film. It’s an unglamorous Britain where two people, a couple you might pass on the street without any thought, are having this extraordinary thing happen in their lives.”