First Trailer for Kristen Stewart's Directorial Debut Released

The first trailer for "The Chronology of Water," Kristen Stewart's directorial debut, was released this week, offering a glimpse into the film's raw exploration of trauma and resilience. The biographical drama, adapted from Lidia Yuknavitch's 2011 memoir, stars Imogen Poots as the author and follows her journey from a promising swimmer in the Pacific Northwest to a writer confronting fractured relationships, addiction, and self-discovery. It arrives in select theaters on December 5, with a nationwide rollout planned for January 9, 2026.

The film traces Yuknavitch's life through a nonlinear narrative structured as a fluid memory wash, transforming personal wreckage into art. Poots portrays Lidia, who escapes an abusive father and struggles with an alcoholic mother via competitive swimming in the 1980s. After her Olympic dreams falter amid self-destructive impulses, she navigates love, loss, near-motherhood, promiscuity, and encounters with artistic figures, ultimately finding healing through writing. Supporting roles include Thora Birch as Claudia, Susannah Flood as Dorothy, Tom Sturridge as Kevin, Jim Belushi as Ken Kesey, Kim Gordon, Michael Epp, Earl Cave, and Charlie Carrick.