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Knife in the Water

Original title: Nóz w wodzie
  • 19621962
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
22K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,647
7,904
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Nóz w wodzie (1962)
  • Drama
  • Thriller
A couple pick up a hitchhiker on the way to their yacht. The husband invites the young man to come along for their day's sailing. As the voyage progresses, the antagonism between the two men... Read allA couple pick up a hitchhiker on the way to their yacht. The husband invites the young man to come along for their day's sailing. As the voyage progresses, the antagonism between the two men grows. A violent confrontation is inevitable.A couple pick up a hitchhiker on the way to their yacht. The husband invites the young man to come along for their day's sailing. As the voyage progresses, the antagonism between the two men grows. A violent confrontation is inevitable.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
22K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,647
7,904
  • Director
    • Roman Polanski
  • Writers
    • Jakub Goldberg(scenario)
    • Roman Polanski(scenario)
    • Jerzy Skolimowski(dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Leon Niemczyk
    • Jolanta Umecka
    • Zygmunt Malanowicz
Top credits
  • Director
    • Roman Polanski
  • Writers
    • Jakub Goldberg(scenario)
    • Roman Polanski(scenario)
    • Jerzy Skolimowski(dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Leon Niemczyk
    • Jolanta Umecka
    • Zygmunt Malanowicz
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 116User reviews
    • 89Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 1 win & 3 nominations total

    Photos102

    Zygmunt Malanowicz in Nóz w wodzie (1962)
    Jolanta Umecka in Nóz w wodzie (1962)
    Zygmunt Malanowicz in Nóz w wodzie (1962)
    Nóz w wodzie (1962)
    Nóz w wodzie (1962)
    Nóz w wodzie (1962)
    Zygmunt Malanowicz in Nóz w wodzie (1962)
    Zygmunt Malanowicz and Leon Niemczyk in Nóz w wodzie (1962)
    Zygmunt Malanowicz and Leon Niemczyk in Nóz w wodzie (1962)
    Jolanta Umecka in Nóz w wodzie (1962)
    Zygmunt Malanowicz, Leon Niemczyk, and Jolanta Umecka in Nóz w wodzie (1962)
    Nóz w wodzie (1962)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Leon Niemczyk
    Leon Niemczyk
    • Andrzejas Andrzej
    Jolanta Umecka
    Jolanta Umecka
    • Krystynaas Krystyna
    Zygmunt Malanowicz
    Zygmunt Malanowicz
    • Young Manas Young Man
    Anna Ciepielewska
    Anna Ciepielewska
    • Krystynaas Krystyna
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Roman Polanski
    Roman Polanski
    • Young Manas Young Man
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Roman Polanski
    • Writers
      • Jakub Goldberg(scenario)
      • Roman Polanski(scenario)
      • Jerzy Skolimowski(dialogue) (scenario)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Well off Andrzej and Krystyna's marriage is at a stage where familiarity breeds contempt, that contempt which is outwardly shown only behind closed doors and only when an incident of some sort sets off one or the other. While driving through the countryside on a Sunday on their way to the lake to embark on an overnight sailing excursion, they almost run over a young male hitchhiker. Despite the antagonism between Andrzej and the hitchhiker, Andrzej offers him a ride as far as the marina. By the time they reach the lake, their antagonism has dissipated enough that Andrzej asks if he would like to join them on their sailing trip. The hitchhiker accepts despite knowing nothing about sailing. As the sailing trip progresses, the antagonism between the two men begins to increase again, fueled on both sides as each strives to be the alpha male. Andrzej needs to show his superiority, while the hitchhiker needs to show that his young age and inexperience, not only with sailing but with life in general, do not make him any less of a man in comparison. Later incidents demonstrate that their relationship may have been different if Krystyna was not in the picture. The hitchhiker's pocket knife, seemingly his most prized possession on his person, becomes a symbol of that power struggle between the two men. If the three emerge from their sailing trip alive, they may be forever changed by their encounter. —Huggo
    • sailing
    • hitchhiker
    • knife
    • radio
    • game
    • 86 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Acclaimed by All
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The first scene in the film shows Andrzej and Krystyna driving a car. As shooting from the platform in front of the car was not yet available, the crew was tied to the car, standing on its mask. To get the proper light effects, they held a blanket with a small hole for the camera. Leon Niemczyk (Andrzej) was really driving this car quite fast (this was crucial to this scene), but he couldn't see anything. He drove the car using the tops of the trees to imagine where the road is.
    • Goofs
      When the young boy is trying to stabilize the Christine by hanging off its side, the railing of the camera boat can be seen in the lower left-hand corner of the screen.
    • Quotes

      Krystyna: [Speaking to the young man, comparing him with her husband] You're just like him... only half his age, and twice as dumb.

    • Connections
      Edited into Spisok korabley (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      Towing the Boat
      (uncredited)

      Composed by Krzysztof Komeda

    User reviews116

    Review
    Top review
    Nature created neither servants nor masters.
    WELL,you can defined this great film just by one particular scene: the old man is rich,have good social position and took the boy on board to play the role of his mentor.However the young man was dragging the beautiful knife,which was_as he claimed_ the most important thing in his life.The guy was always playing the knife between his fingers and the old man was jealous about that.So when the boy went inside the yacht leaving the knife,the old man took the knife and tried to do the same.Suddenly the young appear and saw this.The only way for the old man to get away with some honour was to allow the boy do the play:he played the knife between the old man's fingers,looking straight into his eyes.Well the lady at the same time was swimming using a funny rubber cocodrile.So, imagine this beautiful scene with the knife,all the tension and suddenly we hear the woman shouting:'Andrzej, Andrzej,the cocodrile is making the bubbles',huh,when I was in the cinema the whole audience burst laughting after hearing that!. The woman stays in the background, just think why? There's another great funny shot when the woman lays there for a sunbathe with her small bikinis,well, her breast dominates the scene!. is the waving movement of the yacht who creates the sensual scene!.

    Of course this scene was part of the longer plot ,the critics described this `knife scene' as the most famous and symbolic scene in all of Polanski films..Zygmunt Malanowicz,the actor who played the part of the young man said that he practice a lotnfor those scenes,polanski was afraid if he was prcticing long enough,finally everything was Ok.As Leon Niemczyc,the actor who played the mature role said" Malanowicz only gave me sligh scars'.The idea of the film was the strange competition between this two men.the jury and the prize was the woman.Polanski said he needed a actress that looked plain and normal in ordinary dress but intriguing in bikini!.

    Polanski was not only interested in this kind of personages,he likes the relantionship between' the master and the servant' The domineering and the repressed ,as we can see in his short film' The Fat and the Lean' (1961, B&W, 15mins) or in features like Knife in the Water (1962); Cul-de-sac (1966);Dance of the Vampires(1967) etc.
    helpful•12
    6
    • bateauivre11
    • Oct 21, 2003

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 28, 1963 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Poland
    • Language
      • Polish
    • Also known as
      • Nož v vodi
    • Filming locations
      • Gizycko, Warminsko-Mazurskie, Poland
    • Production company
      • Zespol Filmowy "Kamera"
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

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    Roman Polanski Lines Up New Film ‘The Palace,’ Backed By Rai Cinema
    Apr 29Variety Film + TV

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