[First Look] Kristen Stewart Makes Directorial Debut with ‘The Chronology of Water’
Kristen Stewart has made her feature film directorial debut with The Chronology of Water, a biographical romantic drama based on Lidia Yuknavitch’s 2011 memoir.
Stewart not only directed the film but also co-produced and helped adapt the book for the screen. The movie stars Imogen Poots as Yuknavitch, alongside Thora Birch, Tom Sturridge, Susannah Flood, Kim Gordon, Michael Epp, Earl Cave, Esmé Creed-Miles, and Jim Belushi in supporting roles. Ridley Scott serves as an executive producer.
The film tells the story of a young woman who discovers herself through writing and swimming. As she grows, she becomes a teacher, a mother, and an influential modern writer.
Letterboxd has released a short clip from the film, giving fans a first look at Stewart’s style and the performances of the cast.
First look at Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut ‘THE CHRONOLOGY OF WATER.’
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) November 17, 2025
Trailer debuts tomorrow.
(via @letterboxd) pic.twitter.com/YJ1QB5yT46
The Chronology of Water premiered on May 16, at the Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section. It was met with a warm reception, including a standing ovation that lasted six and a half minutes. In August, The Forge acquired U.S. distribution rights, planning a limited theatrical release on December 5, followed by a wider release on January 9, 2026.
Critics have responded positively to Stewart’s debut. Rotten Tomatoes reports that 94% of 31 reviews were favorable, and Metacritic assigned the film a score of 76 out of 100, indicating generally favorable reviews.
M. Sellers Johnson of Offscreen praised the movie, saying, “Stewart’s blistering debut will surely prompt divisive discourse on its aggressive art film aesthetics, challenging violent and sexual material, and close lens on the topic of trauma. But for all its experiments and deliberate provocations, the film finds itself grounded in deep, personal meaning.”
This film marks an important milestone for Kristen Stewart as she moves from acting to directing, and early reactions suggest she has created a bold and personal piece of cinema.
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