The Chronology of Water arrives in Australian cinemas this August — Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut, The Chronology of Water, will release in select Australian cinemas from 20 August.
The film stars Imogen Poots and is produced by Ridley Scott. It is adapted from Lidia Yuknavitch’s autobiographical bestseller of the same name.
For Australian cinema audiences, the release brings one of the year’s closely watched directorial debuts to the big screen after its Cannes Film Festival premiere. It also gives Stewart a new creative chapter behind the camera.
Kristen Stewart’s Directorial Debut
The Chronology of Water follows Lidia Yuknavitch’s journey through trauma, memory and self-destruction before writing offers a way to reclaim her voice.
Stewart says she first encountered Yuknavitch’s book in 2017. She was drawn to its nonlinear journey through trauma and memory, and to the way it places authorship back in the hands of the person telling the story.
The film features Poots as Yuknavitch. Earl Cave, Tom Sturridge, Thora Birch, Charlie Carrick, Kim Gordon and Jim Belushi also appear in the cast.
According to the release, the story explores how art can become a form of survival. It follows a writer who turns painful lived experience into language, identity and creative power.
From Cannes To Australian Cinemas
The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where it received a seven-minute standing ovation.
As a result, the Australian release arrives with strong festival attention behind it. The film is being positioned as a sensory, autobiographical drama led by Stewart’s visual approach and Poots’ central performance.
For Stewart, the film marks a shift from actor to feature director. For Poots, it offers a role built around vulnerability, recovery and the search for a voice.
The Chronology of Water releases in select Australian cinemas from 20 August.
For more Movie Previews, visit TV Central. Screening information is available through Screen Inc.
