For years, the prospect of an adaptation of Lidia Yuknavitch’s seminal memoir, The Chronology of Water, felt like a Herculean task that might never come to fruition. The book, known for its jagged, non-linear prose and unflinching look at the "bloody histories" of the female body, required a director who was less interested in a standard biopic and more invested in a sensory translation. Enter Kristen Stewart. Making her feature-length directorial debut, Stewart has spent nearly a decade championing this project, and the result is a film that feels as if it were ripped directly from the veins of its creator. Produced by Scott Free Productions and CG Cinéma, the film made its prestigious debut at the Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2025, before arriving in United States theaters on December 5, 2025.
The film stars Imogen Poots in a role that feels like the culmination of her career thus far, portraying Lidia Yuknavitch across several turbulent decades. She is supported by a diverse and unexpected cast, including Thora Birch as Claudia, Susannah Flood as Dorothy, Tom Sturridge as Kevin, and a surprising turn by Jim Belushi as the legendary Ken Kesey. The premise is a deep dive into Lidia’s life, beginning with a childhood fractured by alcohol and domestic violence, moving through a reckless youth defined by self-destruction and competitive swimming, and eventually finding a lifeline in the form of literature and academia. It is a film about how we repossess our own stories, making it an essential piece of 2025 cinema for anyone interested in the intersection of trauma and art.
Story and Screenplay: A Fluid Translation of Memory
One of the most frequent pitfalls of book-to-film adaptations is the tendency to "transliterate" the material, effectively transplanting the page to the screen with a rigid, literal-mindedness that stifles the cinematic potential. Stewart, serving as both director and screenwriter, wisely avoids this trap. Instead, she "translates" the spirit of Yuknavitch’s work. The screenplay does not follow a traditional three-act structure; instead, it adopts the "chronology of water" mentioned in the title, where memories ebb and flow like a tide. The narrative quality is defined by its refusal to stay still, often jumping between decades based on emotional resonance rather than chronological order.
This splintered storytelling is the film's greatest strength and its most significant challenge. For those used to a clear "A to B" journey, the pacing might feel jarring. However, for those willing to submerge themselves in Lidia’s headspace, the rhythm becomes hypnotic. The script explores themes of feminine agony, the physical toll of grief, and the transformative power of the written word with a level of originality rarely seen in contemporary dramas. There are moments where the writing leans into a certain "showiness" that borders on pretentiousness, but these instances usually feel like an extension of Lidia’s own poetic and often chaotic internal voice. By the time Lidia finds her footing as a teacher and meets her future husband, Andy (Charlie Carrick), the emotional payoff feels earned because the script has forced the audience to endure every messy, drunken, and reckless moment of her journey.
Acting and Characters: Imogen Poots in Her Most Inflamed Form
If The Chronology of Water is a body of water, Imogen Poots is the current that keeps it moving. Her performance as Lidia is nothing short of a revelation. She inhabits the character with an "unvarnished and fractured brilliance," moving through the film with a physical intensity that is almost painful to witness. Whether she is portraying Lidia in the depths of an alcoholic blackout or in the quiet, Poots finds the "tender and inflamed" core of the woman. She doesn't ask the audience for sympathy; she demands their attention. It is a performance of damaged glory that should easily place her at the center of the year’s awards conversations.
The supporting cast provides essential anchors for Poots’ sprawling performance. Thora Birch and Susannah Flood offer grounded, often heartbreaking turns as the women who shaped Lidia’s early life, while Tom Sturridge brings a necessary, albeit troubled, energy to the role of Kevin. Perhaps the most intriguing casting choice is Jim Belushi as Ken Kesey. It is a role that could have easily felt like a gimmick, but Belushi brings a weathered gravity to the part that works surprisingly well within the film’s surrealist framework. The chemistry between Poots and Charlie Carrick in the final act is also vital; Carrick’s poised and quiet demeanor provides the "calm" that Lidia has been searching for throughout the entire film. It is through these relationships that we see Lidia’s character development not as a straight line, but as a series of figurative knots that she slowly, painfully begins to untangle.
Direction and Technical Aspects: Stewart’s Artistic Calling Card
As a first-time director, Kristen Stewart exhibits a narrative voice that is both distinctive and remarkably confident. She doesn't play it safe with her visual composition, instead opting for an "up-close-and-personal" style that forces the viewer into Lidia’s physical space. The cinematography often feels like a stream-of-consciousness montage, with Stewart conflating the past and present through clever match cuts and overlapping dialogue. This formal device is in perfect tune with the film’s themes, suggesting that trauma is never truly in the past but is something we carry with us in every moment.
The visual storytelling is embellished by a production design that meticulously tracks Lidia’s descent and eventual ascent. The environments change from the sterile, suffocating atmosphere of her childhood home to the chaotic, rain-slicked streets of her youth, and finally to the more focused, academic settings of her later years. Stewart’s grasp of her material is palpable, and her compassion for Lidia is evident in every frame, no matter how much "madness" the character indulges in. While some might find the direction a bit too showy for its own good, it is hard to deny that Stewart has a clear aesthetic vision. She has successfully created a film that feels both elemental and meticulously crafted, proving that her years in front of the camera have given her a deep understanding of what makes a frame truly resonate.
Trailer The Chronology of Water (2025)
Music and Atmosphere: The Sound of Strident Agony
The atmosphere of The Chronology of Water is perhaps its most polarizing element. Stewart and her sound design team have created a mood that is intentionally abrasive and often exhausting. The soundtrack is characterized by "sporadic screeching and strident strings," an audio choice that mirrors the internal "knots" of Lidia’s trauma. This isn't a film that wants you to be comfortable; it wants you to feel the "feminine confusion and agony" that its protagonist is enduring. The audio design enhances the experience by making the film feel like a sensory overload, capturing the "heaving" intensity of Lidia’s most difficult moments.
This atmospheric weight is complemented by a score that oscillates between frantic energy and quiet, haunting melodies. When Lidia is at her most self-destructive, the music is intrusive and loud, but as she finds her voice through literature, the score begins to reflect a growing confidence. The overall mood is one of "weathering storms," and the audio plays a massive part in conveying that journey. It is a film that you don't just watch; you listen to the sounds of a life being pulled apart and stitched back together. While the soundtrack can be "a tad wearisome" at times, its commitment to reflecting Lidia’s mental state is admirable and ultimately effective in building a fully immersive world.
Strengths and Weaknesses
What works well:
- Imogen Poots’ Performance: A raw, inflamed, and career-best turn that anchors the entire film in messy, damaged glory.
- Kristen Stewart’s Direction: A bold and distinctive maiden feature that proves she has a strong, idiosyncratic narrative voice.
- Non-Linear Structure: The fluid, "water-like" chronology successfully translates the spirit of the source material without being a literal transplant.
- Thematic Depth: An unflinching and compassionate exploration of trauma, the female body, and the redemptive power of art.
- Supporting Cameos: Surprisingly effective turns from actors like Jim Belushi add layers of gravity to the surreal narrative.
What doesn't work:
- Intermittent Pretentiousness: Certain stylistic choices feel a bit too "showy" and can occasionally distract from the emotional core of the story.
- Exhausting Pacing: The splintered storytelling and "up-close" camera work can be wearisome over the film’s 128-minute running time.
- Abrasive Sound Design: The screeching and strident soundtrack is intentionally difficult and may be off-putting for some viewers.
- Fragmented Narrative: Those seeking a more traditional, easy-to-follow biopic might find the stream-of-consciousness style frustratingly obtuse.
Final Verdict: A Harrowing and Heartening Cinematic Event
Rating: 4/5 stars
The Chronology of Water is a film that refuses to offer easy answers or cheap sentimentality. It is a "harrowing and heartening" celebration of the human spirit’s ability to transform pain into beauty. Kristen Stewart has delivered an impressive calling card for her directorial greatness, proving that she has the focus and the empathy required to tackle such complex, visceral material. While it is occasionally "too showy for its own good" and requires a certain level of endurance from its audience, the final assessment is overwhelmingly positive. It is a film that leaves you feeling as if you’ve been through a storm, but one that leads you toward a palpable calm.
Who should watch it? This is a must-see for fans of experimental indie cinema and those who appreciate "translation" adaptations that prioritize spirit over literal accuracy. If you are a fan of Imogen Poots or are curious to see Kristen Stewart’s transition to the director’s chair, you will find much to admire here. It is a film for anyone who has ever felt "untethered" and found their way back through the power of words.
Who might not enjoy it? If you prefer your biopics to be linear, inspiring, and easy to digest, The Chronology of Water will likely be an exhausting experience. Those who are sensitive to abrasive sound design or who find non-linear "stream-of-consciousness" storytelling pretentious should proceed with caution. It is a movie that demands a high level of emotional and intellectual engagement, and it is certainly not "comfortable viewing."
Recommendation: I strongly recommend The Chronology of Water for its fearlessness and its incredible lead performance. It is one of the most unique and distinctive films of 2025, marking the arrival of a major new voice in directing. It is a difficult, beautiful, and ultimately rewarding gamble that pays off in ways that will stay with you long after the final credits roll. Catch it in theaters for the full, immersive sensory experience.
 Movie Review: Kristen Stewart’s Visceral Directorial Debut is a Non-Linear Masterpiece of Trauma, Resilience, and Artistic Rebirth){kind=link}
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