At last May’s Cannes Film Festival, actress and director Kristen Stewart passionately discussed her debut feature film, The Chronology of Water, based on Lidia Yuknavitch’s 2011 memoir. The film, which centers around themes of sexual abuse and trauma, explores the challenge of living a creative and embodied life from the perspective of a woman who has endured deep wounds. Stewart’s adaptation reveals the harrowing and poetic story of Yuknavitch’s childhood in 1980s Florida, her turbulent adulthood, and her eventual literary breakthrough. This project, Stewart’s first directorial effort, delivers a powerful feminist message through its lyricism and brutal honesty.
Exploring Trauma and Female Experience Through Film
The story captures the intimate and often hidden struggles women face, particularly the silencing of natural instincts and voices. Stewart described the memoir as
“kind of like this haunted house,”
pointing out how the pervasive “squashing-down of voice” and violation, even when not physical, shapes female experiences. She emphasized how the book helped her identify herself as an artist, calling it “a life-saving piece of material” and “a flotation device.” Stewart wanted to bring this internal narrative into the open, not leave it confined to private reading but shared “out loud” with others.
Creating a Film Reflecting Internal Realities
Stewart’s approach to adapting the book was not to create a straightforward biopic, but rather to focus on the theme of writing and how individuals reclaim their experiences on their own terms. She expressed that the film is about contextualizing life “inside your body,” leading to acceptance. The making of the film spanned eight years, during which Stewart experienced moments of doubt, worrying the project might fail. Yet, she found value in assembling the film’s pieces, likening the process to putting together a jigsaw puzzle full of emotional connections. She resisted making a perfectly polished script, believing instead in the power of fragmentation and elliptical storytelling to convey the film’s message without becoming formulaic.
Challenges and Artistic Decisions in Editing
The editing phase involved condensing an initially overabundant amount of footage to create a concentrated and powerful final product. Stewart noted that the necessity to reduce the material was essential for a distilled emotional impact. She organized the film’s components to follow clear emotional through-lines and “sense memories” that guided her decisions. Stewart aimed to avoid making the film feel overly cerebral or precious, admitting a desire to restrain the project but acknowledging that in the end, the film’s rawness was vital to its success.
Identifying with the Film’s Central Character
Regarding her connection to the protagonist, Stewart expressed that the character embodies a universal female experience marked by receptivity and vulnerability. She reflected on the reality that “women have a concave nature,” physically designed to receive, yet this openness often places them in precarious positions dominated by male authority figures such as
“God, the Father, the Psychiatrist, the Director.”
Stewart underlined the danger women face when they internalize harmful influences rather than trusting their own instincts. The film sheds light on “the space women occupy” and the tendency to
“operate from a place of shame,”
frequently silencing the inner voice that urges self-protection.
Support and Influence From Industry Mentors
Stewart acknowledged the guidance she received during the film’s creation, highlighting conversations with director Pablo Larrain, whose advice helped her navigate crucial decisions and maintain focus. She also credited Sofia Coppola for providing valuable script development input, particularly cautioning against excessive reliance on voiceover narration. Instead, Coppola encouraged Stewart to let images communicate organically, which informed the film’s more visual storytelling approach. These mentorship experiences offered Stewart essential support in realizing her artistic vision.
Imogen Poots’ Immersive Contribution to the Film
Actor Imogen Poots, who portrays Yuknavitch, brought intense commitment to the role. Stewart praised Poots for her vulnerability and dedication, noting that the actress endured physical hardship, including sustaining two hernias during filming, which Poots kept secret to avoid hindering the production. Stewart described Poots as highly intelligent and central to the film’s emotional core, emphasizing that she “really is this whole movie.” Their shared desire to “let it out” fostered a collaborative atmosphere essential for conveying the raw sensitivity required by the project.
Kristen Stewart’s Reflections on the Film’s Reception
Though Stewart initially feared she might have undermined the film during its long development, she ultimately embraced the final version with pride. She acknowledged the vulnerability involved in sharing such a personal and unconventional film with the public, likening the experience to
“watching your kid go to school after cutting her hair weird, but then everyone loves it.”
The film’s festival journey and the discussions it has sparked have been rewarding, underscoring the importance of addressing female trauma openly through art.
