Welcome to FlixChatter’s first double reviews edition of 2026! Today’s theme is the directorial debut by a pair of acclaimed actresses: Kristen Stewart and Kate Winslet. The Chronology of Water is a film that tells the story of a woman who battles through childhood abuse, addiction, and toxic relationships, ultimately discovering her voice through writing. …
Tag: directorial debut
FlixChatter Review: ANEMONE (2025) – Daniel Day-Lewis hasn’t lost his mastery & passion for his craft, as his son Ronan is still honing his directorial flair
Anemone will likely be known primarily as the comeback film for Daniel Day-Lewis after an 8-year self-imposed ‘retirement’ after he filmed Phantom Thread with PTA. Notably, this film is a family affair as it’s directed by Daniel’s son, Ronan Day-Lewis, and the two also collaborated on the screenplay. The ancient Greek term "anemone" means "windflower," …
FlixChatter Review: ELEANOR THE GREAT (2025) – Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut is decent, but June Squibb is always great
June Squibb is a national treasure! It’s astonishing that she finally got to play a leading role in Thelma last year, more than 65 years after her acting career began. But better late than never, as I’m thrilled to see her portray the film’s title role once again, this time in Scarlett Johansson’s directorial …
FlixChatter Review: BONJOUR TRISTESSE (2025) – this slow-burning drama is visually lush with an evocative summer vibe but lacks a satisfying ending
Bonjour Tristesse is the ultimate Summer movie as it’s set during a Summer holiday in the South of France, where 18-year-old Cécile (Lily McInerny) is spending time with her father Raymond (Claes Bang) and his latest girlfriend, stunning dancer Elsa (Nailia Harzoune). Cécile spends her days swimming and relaxing with her new French boyfriend Cyril …
FlixChatter Review: Jane Austen Wrecked My Life (2025) – this French rom-com captures the essence of Austen as its heroine charts her own literary and romantic path
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman of a certain age on the brink of spinsterhood must be in want of a love life. But is it though? Agathe Robinson (Camille Rutherford) is in her early 30s, she works at the iconic Parisian bookshop Shakespeare and Company, and dreams of becoming a …
FlixChatter Review: A24’s JANET PLANET (2024) – Annie Baker’s kooky but tender mom-daughter drama starring the criminally underrated Julianne Nicholson
There have been some memorable parent-child films I’ve seen of late: Nowhere Special, Ezra, and Ghostlight, to name a few. Here we have a single mother named Janet who lives with her 11-year-old daughter Lacy in rural Massachusetts. What really drew me to this film is its connection to the theater world, as it's directed …
FlixChatter Review: MARMALADE (2024) – a Minnesota-made, romantic heist flick brimming with manic energy
When I first saw the title, I immediately thought of Paddington’s favorite orange jam, but no, this one has nothing to do with the movie about a talking bear. The movie is written and directed by Aussie-American, actor-turned-director Keir O'Donnell (who I remember from The Dry) in his debut feature, and it’s based on his …
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