The Chronology of Water (2025)
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2025-09 to 2026-08
A woman navigates the enduring scars of a traumatic childhood while seeking healing through writing, swimming, and the power of water.
The story
Lidia Yuknavitch finds solace in writing and swimming to escape a home life defined by her father's abuse and her mother's neglect. After her sister flees the household, Lidia manages to leave for college in Texas to explore her identity. However, the haunting memories of her past and her escalating struggles with substance abuse begin to jeopardize her academic and athletic success. While on campus, she enters into a complicated marriage with a man she views as weak, further complicating her journey to find peace and independence from her traumatic upbringing.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Lidia Yuknavitch seeks refuge in writing and swimming to escape a childhood of abuse by her father and neglect by her mother. After moving to Texas to study, she struggles with the trauma of her past and the consequences of substance abuse. She marries Philip, a man she treats poorly due to her own trauma, and later experiences the devastating loss of a stillborn child. Following a period of wandering and a brief, volatile marriage to Devin, she finds a mentor in writer Ken Kesey. Despite a period of escalating alcoholism and a subsequent arrest, Lidia eventually finds stability as a teacher. She marries her third husband, Andy, and becomes a mother to their son, Miles. The film concludes with Lidia and her family swimming, as she reflects on the healing power of water.
- First release year
- 2025
- Runtime (minutes)
- 128
- Production countries
- France; Latvia; United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Kristen Stewart
- Writers
- Kristen Stewart · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Imogen Poots · Lidia Yuknavitch; Thora Birch · Claudia, Lidia's older sister; Susannah Flood · Dorothy, Lidia's alcoholic mother; Tom Sturridge · Devin, Lidia's second husband; Kim Gordon · Photographer, a BDSM therapist; Michael Epp · Mike, Lidia's abusive father; Earl Cave · Phillip, Lidia's first husband; Esmé Creed-Miles · Claire, Lidia's friend; Jim Belushi · Ken Kesey; Charlie Carrick · Andy Mingo, Lidia's third husband
- Genres
- biographical; psychological drama
- Themes
- trauma; healing; motherhood; addiction; artistic expression
- Tone and mood
- intimate; raw; poignant
- Premise and plot tags
- biographical; coming-of-age; recovery
- Source material / true-story basis
- The 2011 memoir of the same name by Lidia Yuknavitch
- Content notes
- alcoholism
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise for the lead performance and 16mm aesthetic, though some noted the pacing was uneven.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 78 · scale: 100 · review count: 28
- Production trivia
- The film was shot on 16mm film with a 1.66:1 ratio.; The film received a six and a half minute standing ovation at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.; Kristen Stewart made her feature film directorial debut with this adaptation.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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