The Chronology of Water

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The Chronology of Water

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2h 8m

Biography

Drama

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89%

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89 Reviews

81%

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50+ Ratings

Oscar-nominated actor Kristen Stewart makes her feature directorial debut with The Chronology of Water, an unflinching portrait of womanhood, survival, and artistry at the fragmented crossroads of memory and memoir, adapted from the book of the same name by Lidia Yuknavitch. Imogen Poots stars as Lidia, a young woman who finds escape from an abusive home through competitive swimming in the 1980s. After her athletic dreams are derailed, she navigates love, loss, addiction, sexuality, and her own self-destructive impulses while discovering her voice, and healing, through the transformative act of writing.

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Critics Consensus

Navigating a journey of emotional healing with impressive fluidity, Kristen Stewart's feature directorial debut is ably shouldered by Imogen Poots' bracingly naturalistic performance.

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Richard Brody

The New Yorker

Jan 14

The movie’s remarkable approach to memory presents it as the opposite of free association—call it compulsory association, the suppression of freedom by the power of ingrained and imposed patterns.

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Saffron Maeve

Globe and Mail

Jan 13

In a sea of actors-turned-directors who contrive drab, visually unremarkable projects, Stewart’s tangly and deeply unsettling character study is almost beyond comprehension.

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Robert Abele

Los Angeles Times

Jan 10

What obviously matters to Stewart is the totality of experience and “The Chronology of Water,” arty and naturalistic in equal measure, is no toe-dip into directing — it’s deep-end stuff from start to finish.

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Michael Nordine

Movie Brief

1d

Too often feels like being held underwater and waiting to come up for air.

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Kathy Fennessy

Seattle Film Blog

Jan 29

4/4

Things might have been different if Kristen Stewart had cast herself, but she made the best choice, the right choice, in casting British-born Poots to play all-American fuckup-turned-bestselling-novelist Lidia Yuknavich.

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Andrew Gaudion

THN

Jan 28

3/5

Stewart does an effective job at placing you in Lidia’s shoes, and it is often a very tense place to be.

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geoffrey w

Jan 25

It tells the story of a woman from girlhood to about 45. And it feels like it’s being told in real time.

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Skye Riley

Jan 24

A powerful directorial debut from Kristen Stewart.

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Noah

Jan 19

This went on for a little too long for me as it felt repetitive, but this was an interesting debut for Kristen Stewart. I liked the aspect ratio making it look like an old home video as it is exploring the protagonist’s memories. This was an interesting look at how abuse affects one’s adulthood. While a different film, this reminded me of Die My Love. Not a bad film and I did enjoy it overall, but some of this could be trimmed.

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Robyn K

Jan 16

Interesting film. Very well acted!

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jesse v

Jan 15

Diary of a Rebellious Angst Lustful Woman Filmed In Avantgarde 35mm Style. The opening studio stingers and the final scenes were my favorite.

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Elsie M

Jan 12

Excellent directorial debut for KStew.

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Kristen Stewart

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Imogen Poots

Lidia

Thora Birch

Claudia

Jim Belushi

Ken Kesey

Tom Sturridge

Devin

Charlie Carrick

Actor

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Synopsis

Oscar-nominated actor Kristen Stewart makes her feature directorial debut with The Chronology of Water, an unflinching portrait of womanhood, survival, and artistry at the fragmented crossroads of memory and memoir, adapted from the book of the same name by Lidia Yuknavitch. Imogen Poots stars as Lidia, a young woman who finds escape from an abusive home through competitive swimming in the 1980s. After her athletic dreams are derailed, she navigates love, loss, addiction, sexuality, and her own self-destructive impulses while discovering her voice, and healing, through the transformative act of writing.

Director: Kristen Stewart
Producer: Maggie Mclean, Dylan Meyer, Michael A. Pruss, Rebecca Feuer, Charles Gillibert, Yulia Zayceva, Max Pavlov, Svetlana Punte, Kristen Stewart, Andy Mingo
Screenwriter: Kristen Stewart
Distributor: The Forge
Production Co: Scott Free Productions, CG Cinéma, Forma Pro Films, Nevermind Pictures
Genre: Biography, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 9, 2026, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA): $18.6K
Runtime: 2h 8m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital