‘The Chronology Of Water' Review: Kristen Stewart Delivers A Wild, Unhinged, Fearless Directional Debut
It's not because you're great in front of the camera that you'll be equally superb behind it, too. More often than not, when a famous actor takes a stab at filmmaking, they play it too safe. This results in a timid and hold-back movie that hopefully is straightforward enough to attract the biggest audience. However, Kristen Stewart ( Love Lies Bleeding , Spencer ) is a stunning exception to that rule. With The Chronology of Water , she – and a formidable Imogen Poots – treat the audience to a dynamic, chaotic and compelling experience.
The boldness and braveness of Stewart as a director and writer are apparent from the start. She decided to film on grainy 16mm and, together with co-writer Andy Mingo ( Romance , The Iconographer ), she turned the film's source material, the abuse memoir by Lidia Yuknavitch, into a striking script worth being adapted. While fiction and reality blend in the script, it doesn't matter how much we know about the actual Lidia. Even more so because for a lot of abused people, fantasy is the ultimate form of escapism, and for Lidia, it's no different. She created a self and reality that might not be everyone's reality.
Throughout multiple chapters, you follow what Lidia's (Poots) story could have been, was and is. An accumulation of childhood abuse, broken relationships, drinking problems and professional failures would be a difficult watch watch in any feature, but in this work, it all hits you even harder. The extreme close-ups, the loud and energetic score, and the compelling but dry voiceovers result in compassionate, intense and absorbing storytelling. The visceral cinematography certainly matches Lidia's gut-wrenching story. While this feature certainly isn't immune to cliches, there are only a handful of predictable moments. Most of the scenes ooze the pain, rawness and secrets the swimmer and aspiring writer has carried with her throughout her entire life.
Ever since she was a young woman, she had to suffer physical and mental abuse at the hand of her stern and ferocious father. The only times she could escape the violence were when he was harming her sister and when she dived into the swimming pool. During The Chronology of Water , it becomes clear that water means so much more to Lidia than it does to most people. It represents freedom, happiness and fulfilment. She sometimes also feels that escapism and transformative feeling in writing, especially during the later part of this film when her dream of becoming a writer might be on the horizon. However, it seems that in everything she does, the abuse and her troubled past are present. Thora Birch as Claudia and Imogen Poots as Lidia in 'The Chronology of Water' courtesy of WME Independent
Despite being beaten up and raped by her dad, it's precisely that pain and violence that get Lidia off. This not only results in nonstop masturbation sessions (and secretively enjoying spanking by her swim coach) but also in a troubled view of what an honest, loving, and genuine relationship is. Frustrated that her boyfriend (Earl Cave) is not rough enough as he's too gentle and tender, she finds comfort in booze, coke and a cocky fuckboy. No matter how freely she feels herself in the water, once back on dry land, she's being locked up again in a cage of abuse, frustration, repression and self-destruction. Even when an artistic opportunity arrives, that could change her life, her toxic daddy issues come creeping around the corner.
There's not a single frame in this feature in which you don't feel the messy and painful life Lidia has been living. Stewart takes you on a rollercoaster of different tones, emotions and kaleidoscopic colours in the most remarkable way. Equally impressive is Poot's immersive, intense and ecstatic performance. Like her director and the passionate writer and Olympic swimming hopeful she's portraying, Poots put their whole being into this work. Some scenes only consist of a handful of snippets or fast-paced edited shots, and during these moments, Poots has little time to show what her character is going through, but she does it impeccable every time. After watching her in Baltimore and All of You , it's great that even a bigger audience will finally see her immense talent. Poots make every scene come alive, whether with one piercing look, a subtle or not-so-subtle gesture or the fast swimming.
So, despite the flaws that come with creating an indie feature as your directional debut, this is a heartfelt and intense story with strong direction and honest and committed on-screen performances.
The Chronology of Water held its World Premiere in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.
Director: Kristen Stewart
Screenwriters: Kristen Stewart, Andy Mingo
Rated: NR
Runtime: 128m
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
What Happened on Y&R Today? Cane's Betrayal Rocks Lily, Dumas Mystery Deepens
In The Young and the Restless June 20 episode, the drama unfolded as Cane Ashby revealed his shocking identity as Aristotle Dumas to a furious Lily and stunned guests. Amanda (Mishael Morgan) led Lily (Christel Khalil) through the maze to meet the elusive Dumas Billy Flynn. When she finally came face-to-face with him, she was left speechless. To her shock, Dumas turned out to be none other than her ex-husband, Cane. Lily's world was rocked as Cane explained that his identity had been hidden for reasons he was not yet ready to fully reveal. The twist left Lily furious, and she lashed out, questioning his motives. Cane promised that he would answer all of her questions in time, but Lily was not convinced. Her anger only intensified as she processed the betrayal. MORE: Adam has new details about Dumas/Cane. Meanwhile, in the train car, the rest of the guests waited impatiently, wondering when Dumas would finally show his face. Victor (Eric Braeden) and Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott) grew increasingly uneasy with each passing moment. Victor questioned Dumas's true intentions and what kind of deal he was orchestrating behind the scenes. As they sat and waited, the group discussed the mysteries of Dumas's rise to power and what his ultimate goal might be. Everyone was speculating about his next move, with Victor remaining firm in his suspicions. Sharon (Sharon Case) worried about Dumas possibly causing harm to their friends, but Victor was confident they would soon get the answers they were all seeking. READ MORE: Here's a shocking Y&R BTS. Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) continued to follow Amanda closely, eager to get a glimpse of Dumas. When she learned that Lily had been taken aside to meet with him first, Phyllis's frustration boiled over. She was desperate to uncover Dumas's secrets before anyone else, but Amanda explained that this was a personal matter for Lily. Despite the obstacles, Phyllis was unwilling to back down and tried to find any opportunity to get closer to Dumas. WATCH THIS: Did you know Soap Hub has a podcast?! Check it out here! Back in the maze, Lily, still reeling from her confrontation with Cane, called out for help. Devon (Bryton James) and Damian (Jermaine Rivers) rushed to her side. Lily, hyperventilating, blurted out the truth—Cane was Dumas. The revelation shocked everyone. When Cane entered the room, the mystery finally came to a head. Victor introduced Cane as Dumas to the group. Everyone was left stunned, including Billy (Jason Thompson), who couldn't understand why Cane was involved in this scheme. Cane, still calm and collected, stood by his decision, ready to reveal more about his plan in the coming days. But the question remained—what exactly did Cane, or Dumas, want from the group? With Cane's shocking reveal, the future of the Winters family was uncertain. Lily wasn't sure how to move forward, while the rest of the guests, including Victor, Nick (Joshua Morrow), and Phyllis, were left questioning the true intentions behind Dumas's game.
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Is Young and the Restless June 17 Playing ‘The Most Dangerous Game'?
In 1924, a short story called 'The Most Dangerous Game' was published. The movie version came in 1932. It was remade in 2022. Is The Young and the Restless June 17 episode about to give us the television version? In the 100-year-old tale, the story of a hunter who washes up on an island… only to become prey for a General who has gotten bored hunting big game animals and wants a bit more of a challenge. As in, a man-shaped one. Now, Jack (Peter Bergman), Diane (Susan Walters), Kyle (Michael Mealor), and Audra (Zuleyka Silver) were forced to navigate a maze (not unlike the one in 'The Shining,' but let's leave it to one movie reference per post) in order to get to the lunch where Victor (Eric Braeden), Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott), Nick (Joshua Morrow), Sharon (Sharon Case), Billy (Jason Thompson), and Sally (Courtney Hope) are already waiting. Are they being fattened up? Like lambs to the slaughter, perhaps? MORE: See a sneak peek of what's happening this week on Y&R. The mysterious Aristotle Dumas is already watching his guests through closed-circuit TV. Why shouldn't we assume this is all a big game to him? One in which he's the predator… and our favorites from Genoa City are the prey? He wants to lull them into a false sense of security before he launches the final test — one where they all run for their lives as he stealthily tracks them. READ MORE: Find out what happens next on Y&R. So why not include Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) in the fun and games? She'd probably say it's because he recognized her brilliance from afar and knows that, in a battle of wits, she'll always come out on top. He's basically intimidated by her self-proclaimed genius. But we suspect it's simpler than that. Even a man who has hunted everything the earth has to offer doesn't want to hear her shrieking in indignation. She can stay where she is and drink her champagne. Dumas has more important fish to fry. Maybe literally.
Gizmodo
37 minutes ago
- Gizmodo
‘Magic: The Gathering' Unveils Its First ‘Avatar: Last Airbender' Card
Magic: The Gathering has been doing crossover packs with various IP, and later this year, Avatar: The Last Airbender is joining those ranks. During this weekend's MagicCon, Wizards of the Coast showed off its first card from the set dropping in late November. Naturally, that card is a Legendary featuring Aang manipulating water, fire, earth, and air while in the Avatar State. On the flip side is him looking up at his Avatar Spirit, with artwork for both sides drawn by Airbender co-creator Bryan Konietzko, a process you can see below. For Magic players, the 'Avatar Aang' side lets them draw a card whenever they bend one of the four elements and transform into Avatar Aang if all four are drawn by the current turn. Conversely, the 'Master of Elements' side lets them 'gain 4 life, draw four cards, put four +1/+1 counters on him, and he deals 4 damage to each opponent' at the start of each upkeep. Coming November 21, 2025https:// — Magic: The Gathering (@wizards_magic) June 20, 2025In its blog post, Wizards teased the Avatar set will let players 'take a ride on a sky bison, channel the memories of past Avatars, and explore a world of untold wonders.' It follows the Final Fantasy set released earlier in June, which was already successful before it even hit stores, and the Spider-Man set dropping in September. Wizards plans to unveil more information on Magic'sAvatar: The Last Airbender set Tuesday, August 12, including mechanics and other cards from the set. The full collaboration will hit shelves Friday, November 21. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
