About Time
2013 · Directed by Richard Curtis
Original language: English
- drama
- romance
- fantasy
The story
The night after another unsatisfactory New Year's party, Tim's father reveals to him that the men in their family have the ability to travel through time. They can't change history, but they can change what happens and has happened in their own lives. Thus begins the start of a lesson in learning to appreciate life itself as it is, as it comes, and most importantly, the people living alongside us.
What it’s like
Warm, golden-edged English summer light and soft domestic interiors: Cornwall's green cliffs, a tidy London townhouse, rain-streaked windows and the glow of a crowded pub, shot with a loose, affectionate handheld camera that lingers on faces during quiet exchanges. The palette runs honey, sea-blue and muted wool, and the score is gentle piano under bright pop needle-drops that give the wedding and party scenes a sunny bounce. Its vibe is wistful and tender, with a comforting undertow of melancholy: the feeling of a rainy Sunday afternoon, or a comfort rewatch when you want to be reminded to notice ordinary days. The pacing is unhurried and conversational, with sweet, funny beats cutting into moments of grief. Its emotional arc follows a young man slowly learning to value the present and the people around him, and a father and son who speak more openly as time goes on. The intensity is low: some strong language and sexual references, a brief, undramatic death, and no violence or gore. It suits viewers who want a gentle, romantic, reflective film that leaves them quietly moved and hopeful, especially those who enjoy British romcoms with a bittersweet streak.
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