Kristen Stewart steps behind the camera for her directorial debut with 'The Chronology of Water', a film that is as challenging as it is compelling. Released on 9 January 2026, this English-language drama, adapted from Lidia Yuknavitch's memoir, is not for the faint of heart. It's a cinematic journey that demands your full attention and leaves a lasting, if draining, impression.
A Story Told Through Fractured Memories
The film follows the life of Lidia, portrayed with breathtaking intensity by Imogen Poots. Growing up in the early 1980s in a deeply troubled household, Lidia's childhood is marred by sexual abuse at the hands of her father, Michael (played by Michael Epp). Her home is a place of fear, with her subdued mother Dorothy (Susannah Flood) and younger brother also bearing the scars of a threatening, alcoholic patriarch.
Lidia finds a semblance of escape and purpose in swimming, which offers a potential scholarship and a way out. However, injuries cloud that path, leading her into a drift of chaotic parties, dangerous relationships, and a series of lovers. The narrative unfolds non-linearly over its 2-hour and 10-minute runtime, mirroring the way trauma fragments memory. It jumps between different chapters of her life, from deep despair to fragile stability, as she eventually turns to writing as a form of healing.
Stewart's Uncompromising Vision
What makes 'The Chronology of Water' stand out is Kristen Stewart's fearless approach to direction. She refuses to glamorize pain or offer neat, comforting resolutions. The film's visual language is raw and intimate. The camera lingers on bodies—in motion in the water or in vulnerable stillness—with sweat and tears blending in a way that feels startlingly authentic. Close-ups on trembling hands and skin are held almost uncomfortably long, forcing the audience to sit with the character's rawness.
This stylistic choice pays off powerfully in the quieter moments where Lidia begins to reclaim her narrative. Stewart treats time as layered, with pain resurfacing the way real memories do: unpredictably and with visceral force. The use of voiceover, feeling like private confessions lifted from a diary, further deepens the film's introspective and unsettling atmosphere.
A Stellar Cast Anchored by a Towering Performance
The film is anchored by Imogen Poots' career-defining performance. She embodies Lidia with a fierce fragility that is utterly captivating, making every triumph and setback profoundly felt. She is powerfully supported by a strong ensemble cast. Thora Birch brings quiet depth to the role of Lidia's sister, while Susannah Flood is heartbreaking as their broken mother. Jim Belushi appears in a memorable turn as a mentor figure.
Supporting actors like Tom Sturridge, Charlie Carrick, Michael Epp, and Earl Cave add dimension to Lidia's world, but the film wisely lets Poots' commanding presence remain the emotional core. Every performance feels grounded and believable, contributing to the film's overwhelming sense of reality.
Final Verdict: Not an Easy Watch, But a Meaningful One
With a critic's and user rating of 3.0, 'The Chronology of Water' is a film that will polarize audiences. It is deliberately messy, emotionally grueling, and its non-linear structure may confuse some viewers. Certain moments drag, and it offers no easy answers.
However, for those willing to engage with its challenging narrative, it is a profoundly impactful experience. It is a film about the grind of carrying scars and the messy, non-linear path to navigating them. Kristen Stewart announces herself as a bold and uncompromising director, and Imogen Poots delivers a performance of raw power. This is a film for those seeking cinema that confronts difficult truths head-on, but it is best avoided if you're looking for light entertainment or comforting storytelling.
