The Chronology of Water
Through loss, love, and self-discovery, a woman transforms pain into art—and writes a life on her own terms. (NR, 128 min.)
Showtimes
Friday, January 30, 2026
(TBD)
Based on the beloved memoir by Lidia Yuknavitch and marking the directorial debut of Kristen Stewart, The Chronology of Water is a raw and unflinching portrait of survival, sexuality, and self-invention. The film traces Lidia’s life from her earliest memories in the Pacific Northwest, as a promising swimmer, through fractured relationships, near-motherhood, addiction, and encounters with artistic heroes. Told as a fluid memory wash, the story transforms trauma into art, embodying Yuknavitch’s defiant voice that made her work a modern cult classic. It is not only a chronicle of a woman becoming a writer, but a visceral journey through the wreckage and resilience of a life lived against the grain. [The Forge]
Starring: Imogen Poots, Thora Birch, Susannah Flood, Tom Sturridge, Kim Gordon, Michael Epp, Jim Belushi
Writer/Director: Kristen Stewart
Based on Memoir: By Lidia Yuknavitch
Genre: Genre, Romance, Biography
"Stewart adapted the material, and you can feel her love for it."
— Sheila O'Malley, RogerEbert.com
"This is an earnest and heartfelt piece of work, and Stewart has guided strong, intelligent performances."
— Peter Bradshaw, Guardian
"Stewart’s greatest asset in all of this is the 35-year-old Poots herself, whose performance here is career-best work: utterly fearless and ferociously real."
— Robbie Collin, Daily Telegraph (UK)
"Imogen Poots is riveting as Lidia, a championship swimmer grappling with recovery from abuse, delivering a performance that is both raw and layered with meaning."
— Peter Howell, Toronto Star
"Imogen Poots’s fantastically expressive performance as the adult Lidia transforms this movie (the feature directing debut of Kristen Stewart) from punishing to mesmerizing."
— Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times
"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
"What obviously matters to Stewart is the totality of experience and 'The Chronology of Water,' arty and naturalistic in equal measure, is no toe-dip into directing — it’s deep-end stuff from start to finish."
— Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times
"'The Chronology of Water' feels like the natural next step [for Kristen Stewart]: a film that refuses to dull its bite and forces the viewer into its abrasive tone, confident that they’ll grow accustomed to its rhythm."
— Coleman Spilde, Salon.com
Support for the Moxie
Become A Member
