Knife in the Water

Director: Roman Polanski

10 February 2025

See

Released in 1962 as Nóż w wodzie, Andrzej (Leon Niemczyk) and Krystyna (Jolanta Umecka) drive through the Polish countryside and pick up a hitchhiker. Andrzej toys with and torments the young man (Zygmunt Malanowicz) and invites him on their yacht to continue the game.

Think

Why would you say yes? If you’re having a good time, have no place else to go, or it feels right. This does. It’s not obvious that Andzej is an asshole, or if he’ll stay alpha. Their interactions are a kind of one-up-manship. Verbally sparing and physically too, with the scenery constantly changing and tension building as Chekhov’s knife appears.

Feel

It’s Krystyna who will ultimately decide who is the top dog. Neither, or both. Polanki captures in his first feature stunning black and white shot, like the boy hanging from the mast sail pretending to run on water, but also compelling human drama.