Actress Kristen Stewart is preparing for her first feature-length directorial project, The Chronology of Water, an adaptation of Lidia Yuknavitch’s 2011 memoir. In a recent interview, the 34-year-old shared intriguing details about the highly anticipated film.
Stewart discussed the raw nature of her upcoming film, highlighting its exploration of complex and intense themes such as incest, menstruation, and a woman’s struggle to reclaim her identity and body.
She candidly stated, “My movie is about incest and periods and a woman violently repossessing her voice and body, and it is, at times, hard to watch… but it’s gonna be a f***ing thrill ride.”
She added, “I think that’s commercial, but I don’t think that I have any gauge on what that means. I think people would want to see that, but then… I think maybe people wanna watch movies about, like, Jesus and dogs.”
Reflecting on her journey to directing, Stewart acknowledged the significant challenges of making a film in Hollywood. She emphasized that as she grows older, she prioritizes projects with concrete, meaningful goals over those that provide solely personal fulfillment.
She said, “As an actor, I’m called upon to serve other people’s visions. You get greedy; it feels good to be called upon… even if you don’t love the thing. I think it’s nice that, as I’ve gotten older, I would much prefer to tailor my experiences to result-oriented goals versus just, ‘This is gonna feel good for me right now.’”
The memoir delves into Yuknavitch’s life journey, navigating addiction, child abuse, and healing through writing and competitive swimming. At its core, the story deeply examines themes of gender, sexual behavior, violence, and family, presenting a poignant and transformative narrative.
Kristen Stewart will bring a bold adaptation of The Chronology of Water to life in her directorial debut, with actress Imogen Poots starring in the lead role.
