Kristen Stewart made her much-anticipated directorial debut with The Chronology of Water, which premiered to an enthusiastic audience at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival on Friday night. The film was met with a resounding four-and-a-half-minute standing ovation inside the iconic Palais des Festivals, showcasing the crowd's appreciation for Stewart's work. An emotional Stewart celebrated this moment by embracing her cast with hugs and high-fives as the applause lingered in the auditorium.
After the screening, Stewart joyfully bounded across the room to greet Thierry Frémaux, the head of Cannes, with a heartfelt hug. In a candid moment, she expressed her gratitude, stating, “I don’t have anything else to say; I left it all on the screen. Just thank you all for being here. Seriously, we finished the movie five minutes ago — it’s not even done. We got so lucky, and I’m so grateful to be here.”
Stewart then invited her star, Imogen Poots, to address the audience, saying, “Truly, your body is the movie, I’m giving it to you.” Poots, equally emotional, responded, “She’s the best director, and I hope you all liked the movie.” The film, produced by Scott Free Productions with renowned director Ridley Scott among the producers, was filmed across scenic locations in Latvia and Malta over a period of six weeks in 2024.
In an impressive feat, Stewart adapted the screenplay from Lidia Yuknavitch's memoir, collaborating with co-writer Andy Mingo. The adaptation aims to preserve the book's fragmented and stream-of-consciousness qualities, providing a rich narrative experience. The film also features notable supporting performances from Thora Birch, Earl Cave, Kim Gordon, and Jim Belushi.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter prior to the premiere, Stewart was refreshingly candid about her debut. “I cannot believe it,” she exclaimed, reflecting on her return to the Côte d’Azur to present her first feature film. She humorously noted, “This is my fucking first draft … We’re running in here half-dressed. But I’m into it.” Stewart even joked about hoping The Chronology of Water would “crash and burn” at Cannes, emphasizing her belief that making mistakes is “fucking hot.”
Stewart revealed that her desire to direct has been a long-standing ambition that dates back to her childhood. “I think I was nine years old,” she mentioned, recalling the moment her passion for directing first ignited.
During her introduction at the Debussy theater, Stewart shared her heartfelt intentions for the film, stating, “This was a radical act of love.” She invited the audience to engage with the film openly, emphasizing the importance of their presence. “After eight years of memory making, this iteration is asking for nothing but to be seen and heard," she added. “My extreme gratitude goes to every mind and body who is sitting in this theater now that’s going to add to the experience and multiply it.”
Stewart concluded her remarks with a powerful tribute to Yuknavitch, expressing deep gratitude: “Lydia, thank you for writing and spewing in the very face of fuck. Thank you for the trickle. Thank you for the gush. Thank you for everything. Now let’s rip off this bandaid and watch the fucking movie!”
As Kristen Stewart embarks on this new chapter as a director, The Chronology of Water promises to be a significant addition to her artistic journey, embodying passion, creativity, and a bold exploration of storytelling.
