Hull Independent Cinema: The Chronology of Water

Dir Kristen Stewart | USA, France, Latvia | 2025 | 128 mins | Rating TBC | English
An unflinching portrait of womanhood, survival and artistry, adapted from Lidia Yuknavitch’s celebrated memoir. Emerging from a childhood scarred by abuse, violence and alcoholism, Lidia throws herself into competitive swimming. But as she grows up and her sporting ambitions are derailed, she has to navigate a spiral of drugs, alcohol, love, loss and self-destruction. Over time, however, Lidia teaches herself to transform her pain into art, and writing becomes her path to survival and self-expression. Through raw memories and literary ambition, she finds her voice and reclaims her own story. Starring Imogen Poots, Thora Birch, Jim Belushi

AWARDS AND FESTIVALS
Cannes: Nominee, Un Certain Regard, Golden Camera
Valladolid Int’l FF: Nominee, Best Film
New Horizons Poland Int’l FF: Nominee, Grand Prize
Deauville FF: Winner, Revelations Prize; Nominee, Grand Special Prize
Denver FF: Winner, Best Performance

REVIEWS
“Actors turning to directing is nothing new, but it’s unlikely you’ve seen a performer’s directorial debut as boldly confident and emotionally precise as Kristen Stewart’s The Chronology of Water.” Chase Hutchinson, The Wrap

“Kristen Stewart reveals a deft directorial hand and a distinct, languid, echoing style in her vividly made, emotionally visceral exploration of the life and times of American novelist Lidia Yuknavitch.” ★★★★ Christina Newland, Time Out

“Stewart’s greatest asset in all of this is Imogen Poots, whose performance here is career-best work: utterly fearless and ferociously real.” ★★★★ Robbie Collin, Daily Telegraph