This yr’s Cannes — particularly the Un Sure Regard sidebar — was residence to directorial debuts from three main actors, together with Scarlett Johansson’s “Eleanor the Nice,” Harris Dickinson’s “Urchin,” and Kristen Stewart‘s “The Chronology of Water.” And although Stewart has been a Cannes mainstay for almost a decade, the movie was well-reviewed, and Stewart’s star energy is as sturdy as ever, even films with that pedigree handle to sit down on the shelf. We’ve requested distributors repeatedly to look alive.
As we speak, somebody did, and Stewart’s “The Chronology of Water” has been acquired for North American distribution by The Forge, an upstart distributor that final yr dealt with the discharge of Mexico’s Oscar submission “Sujo,” in addition to movies like “Black Canine” and “The Balconettes.” Stewart’s movie is by far the distributor’s highest profile launch (phrases of the deal weren’t disclosed), and it’s planning to present the movie a sturdy awards marketing campaign with a launch in theaters this December. It’ll open restricted for a qualifying run and broaden in January.
“The Chronology of Water” is Stewart’s adaptation of a memoir by Lidia Yuknavitch, a aggressive swimmer who handled an abusive childhood, sexual experimentation, poisonous relationships, and dependancy, all earlier than discovering her voice as a inventive author. Anchored by a powerfully trustworthy efficiency by Imogen Poots, the movie is framed very like a visible poem, absent figuring out time stamps or title playing cards and informed in “a constellation of scattered quotes and half-invented recollections,” as IndieWire’s critic David Ehrlich described it out of Cannes. He praised the movie and notably Stewart’s course for being innately comfy and gifted behind the digicam, writing that “some films are shot. This one was directed.”
“There isn’t a single millisecond of this film that doesn’t bristle with the uncooked vitality of an artist who’s discovered the permission she wanted to place her entire being into each body, messy and shattered as that could be,” the evaluate reads. “And it’s largely for that motive why ‘The Chronology of Water’ works even when it doesn’t: As a result of, on an nearly subatomic degree, Stewart communes with the liquid spirit of a lady who solely grew to become entire by permitting herself to dissolve into the smallest essences of her being — time and again till it appeared unattainable she may ever regain a recognizable form.”
Stewart had been growing “The Chronology of Water” for eight years earlier than it lastly discovered funding from Ridley Scott’s Scott Free manufacturing banner, and Stewart introduced she could be directing it method again in 2022 earlier than it lastly was prepared for Cannes this summer time. On the time she known as it “fiercely, ragingly feminine,” and at Cannes this yr, the method didn’t deter her from going again to the nicely once more, saying that not solely will she direct once more, she’s obtained a number of initiatives within the works.
“Oh, man, it felt so good. I’m dying,” Stewart informed Anne Thompson. “It’s going to be rather a lot simpler this time. I’ve all the time mentioned that so long as I could make one other film after my first one, that I don’t must be valuable or intelligent about it in any respect. It simply must really feel pure. I’ve earned the precise to attempt yet another time. I by no means wish to make the identical film twice. So no matter comes out subsequent goes to not be something like this. I can’t fucking wait.”
Alongside Poots within the movie are Jim Belushi, Thora Birch, Charlie Carrick, Susannah Flood, Kim Gordon, and Tom Sturridge. Producers on “The Chronology of Water” embrace Charles Gillibert (CG Cinema Worldwide); Yulia Zayceva, Max Poklov, and Svetlana Punte (Forma Professional Movies); Michael Pruss, and Rebecca Feuer (Scott Free); Stewart, Maggie McLean, and Dylan Meyer (Nevermind Photos); and Andy Mingo in affiliation with Scott Aharoni, Alihan Yalcindag, and Sinan Eczacibasi for Curious Gremlin; Christian Vesper for Fremantle; Yan Vizinberg, Abigail Honor and Chris Cooper for Lorem Ipsum Leisure; Mélanie Biessy for Scala Movies.
“Kristen [Stewart] hasn’t simply directed a movie, she’s carved out a world with unmistakable imaginative and prescient: one which pulses with ache, want, and defiance,” mentioned Mark Mathias Sayre, CEO of The Forge, in an official assertion. “’The Chronology of Water’ is not like something we’ve ever launched: visceral, expansive, and anchored by a efficiency from Imogen Poots that wrecks and rebuilds you. The movie is a serious achievement on each degree, and we’re honored to carry it to North American audiences.”
“After eight lengthy years of gestation, I’m overwhelmed by the privilege of getting ‘The Chronology of Water’ be launched in theaters with the complete help and ambition of like-minded artists just like the companions we’ve discovered at The Forge,” Stewart added in her personal assertion. “Movies like ours must be birthed onto the display screen and I’m grateful we discovered a workforce as dedicated to supporting impartial filmmakers as they’re.”
The North American deal was brokered by Mark Mathias Sayre (CEO), Steven Michael Swadling (Associate), and Decker Sadowski (Head of Acquisitions) on behalf of The Forge, and WME Unbiased on behalf of the filmmakers. Les Movies du Losange is dealing with worldwide gross sales and French distribution.
