Film Review – The Chronology of Water (2025)

      The Chronology of Water, 2025.

      Written and Directed by Kristen Stewart.

      Featuring Imogen Poots, Thora Birch, Charlie Carrick, Tom Sturridge, Susannah Flood, Esme Allen, Kim Gordon, Michael Epp, Jim Belushi, Earl Cave, Jeremy Ang Jones, Hal Weaver, Eleanor Hahn, Anna Wittowsky, Georgie Dettmer, and Marlēna Sniega.

      SYNOPSIS:

      Amidst loss, love, and self-discovery, a woman turns her pain into art, shaping a life defined on her own terms.

      Discussing Kristen Stewart's filmmaking debut, The Chronology of Water, in a conventional review format that simply summarizes the narrative would not only undermine the ambitious, entrancing experimental craft presented but also diminish its intent.

      Edited with a chaotic yet deliberate precision by Olivia Neergaard-Holm, this film starts with images and sounds that rhythmically crash in and out, leaving the audience uncertain if everything is functioning correctly, only to reveal itself through a grainy 16mm presentation that suggests it more closely resembles a memory than a direct narrative. Similar to recollections, many scenes have an indistinct quality, with timelines and moments intermingling and overlapping, visually enhanced by striking transitions and dissolves, the work of cinematographer Corey C. Waters. The score by Paris Hurley complements the quieter, reflective, and meditative aspects of the fragmented filmmaking while also capable of turning explosively loud unexpectedly. It’s clear that Kristen Stewart employs every tool available to compose a lyrical, sensory-centric experience.

      These memories belong to Lidia Yuknavitch (with the screenplay adapted from her memoir, portrayed by Imogen Poots), a budding swimmer living in a fractured household under the thumb of a violent, sexually abusive father (Michael Epp), left isolated after her mother’s overdose and her sister (played as an adult by Thora Birch) escapes for her own safety. For the most part, Kristen Stewart’s film does not fixate on presenting traumatic imagery overtly, but rather illuminates how these memories fade into a fog. This approach sensitively navigates heavy themes, making it more compelling and emotionally resonant than handheld storytelling. Naturally, there is also an emergence of agency, as Lidia eventually stands up to her father and begins to engage with life.

      Divided into five chapters, each concentrating on a pivotal moment or individual in Lidia’s life, Kristen Stewart utilizes similar cinematic techniques to explore familiar topics, such as struggles with addiction, thwarted ambitions, intensely passionate yet at times tumultuous romances (including the exploration of sexual identity), depression, overwhelming loss, and some lighter elements like mentorship under a renowned writer (played by Jim Belushi). The continuous overlays and cuts seemingly showcase that even joyful memories can be intertwined with sorrow.

      This structure enables both Kristen Stewart and Imogen Poots (who delivers a bold, primal performance) to blend contrasting emotions within the same segment. It provides a raw portrayal of trauma and the processes of living, with memories and visuals colliding. There is also a notable focus on the human body and the various fluids it produces, with water itself serving as a metaphor.

      Part of the reflective narration features Lidia suggesting that patterns and repetitions manifest in water (especially when examining the fluctuations of her relationships), mirroring life’s rhythm. However, that same repetitiveness appears in the film, with the latter half somewhat struggling to maintain the audience's engagement as effectively as the first hour. Notably, the poetry recited presumably derives from the actual writings of Lidia Yuknavitch, which weaves the disjointed storytelling into a cohesive and immersive whole. For those who have followed Kristen Stewart’s post-mainstream acting journey, The Chronology of Water represents the bold and audacious work one would anticipate from her direction. Given that it is her debut, it is truly impressive.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★

      Robert Kojder

      Originally published December 30, 2025. Updated December 31, 2025.