The Chronology of Water: Kristen Stewart's Directorial Debut Should Be in Awards Race, But Isn't
By Karen Gordon
Rating: B+
Kristen Stewart makes an impressive directorial debut with her adaptation The Chronology of Water. The film is a raw, emotional primal scream anchored by a career highlight performance by Imogen Poots.
The Chronology of Water, based on the book "The Chronology of Water: A Memoir “ by Lidia Yuknavitch, is a surprisingly poetically written memoir about Yuknavitch’s trauma filled life. Childhood with her sexually abusive father leads her to rebellious years with drugs, alcohol and sexual experimentation, and to finding herself through her writing, and ultimately motherhood and family.
Stewart, who also did the screen adaptation has been faithful to the tone, spirit and structure of the book, starting the film in the middle, and then moving back and forth in time.
We know there's trauma before we know the full cause of it. Stewart doesn't flinch from the emotional maelstrom of self destruction that Lidia descends into. Nor does she minimize or judge it, which is an important reason why the film has such potency.
Stewart shoots in close ups and, follows the book's structure, moving the story around in time and place, building a sense of the kind of emotional chaos, the ways Lidia would numb or distract herself with self-abuse, drugs, alcohol and sexual experimentation. Stewart’s choices, may blur the timeline, but they focus our attention on the emotional disorientation that Lidia feels. She is a strong person, but also damaged and lost. But there is power in her spirit that keeps pushing her forward.
One of the constants in Lidia’s life is swimming. She had the talent to be a competitive swimmer and water becomes a constant in her life, ultimately both a part of her story, and a metaphor.
The film largely focuses on Lidia at university, finding herself. At school, without a framework, she descends into alcohol and drugs, ultimately flunking out of her program and being kicked out of school. But by then, Lidia’s honest and lyrical writing begins to attract attention. She ends up part of a group of students picked by the legendary author Ken Kesey (Jim Belushi) who’s own counterculture attitude wakes something up in Lidia.
Stewart’s decision to slide us around in time, focusing on unexplained moments, is a risky choice, but handled beautifully. Along with a deep and committed performance by Poots, she creates an emotional atmosphere that gives us a visceral sense of the conflicting emotions that Lidia is trying to wrangle.
Poots rises to the occasion with ferocity and vulnerability. Her performance is authentic, and moving. Lidia is running away from her past and running for her life, throwing herself into things that will numb her, help her cope with the internalized rage of the things she suffered as a child without being overt.
Stewart resists judging Lidia in any way, or giving us cause to disbelieve her. It’s one of the keys to the movie’s effectiveness. She’s not manipulating this to make us feel sorry for Lidia. She’s giving her and her harrowing story respect without looking away.
Stewart doesn’t compromise what she’s aiming for here, but at the same time the film isn’t dark or difficult. Lidia’s spirit defines the film. Her ability is to love and be loved, to make mistakes and get up and try again despite a rough start.
Chronology of Water had its world premiere last year at the Cannes Film Festival where it was well received. But we’ve had to wait a long time to see it.
It is a shame that the film didn't find an earlier release date. Holiday releases, and the extended awards season suck the oxygen out of the discussion of new movies at this time of year, especially smaller and more complicated films like this one. But there is awards worthy work here. I can see a world where Poots’ all-in performance would be recognized as one of the best of the year.
The Chronology of Water is a solid debut, a strong film, that stands up on multiple viewings. It signals Stewart’s arrival as a director with great promise.
The Chronology of Water, written and directed by Kristen Stewart. Stars Imogen Poots, Thora Birch and Jim Belushi. In select theatres, including Toronto’s TIFF Lightbox and Vancouver’s VIFF Centre.