A visceral, nonlinear portrait of a woman on fire, Kristen Stewart’s tactile directorial debut The Chronology of Water strips down and remakes the coming-of-age genre with her own fierce cinematic vision.
Adapted from writer Lidia Yuknavitch’s memoir of the same name, her life unfolds before us in fits and stars, echoing the way flashes of memories fold into each other. We follow Lidia (Imogen Poots) from her early life in the Pacific Northwest, her teenage years as a promising swimmer, her sexual awakening, her troubled relationships, her battles with addiction, and her journey towards finding her voice as a writer. The result is a raw and unflinching story of survival, resilience, and the bravery required to live a life marked by unimaginable traumas and abuse, embrace it, and transform it into art.
Anchored by Poots’ bold performance, the film also features standout supporting performances from Thora Birch, Tom Sturridge, Jim Belushi, and Kim Gordon. Stewart’s stylistic direction evokes the frank sexuality of provocateur Catherine Breillat by way of avant-garde pioneer Hollis Frampton. The Chronology of Water premiered in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival and is executive produced by Ridley Scott.
