Knife in the Water (1962) is a psychological thriller, the debut feature film of director Roman Polanski. It is a Polish film, with subtitles in English. The movie is set entirely on a small boat sailing on a lake, and explores the dynamics between the three main characters - the middle-aged Andrzej (Leon Niemczyk), his younger wife Krystyna (Jolanta Umecka), and the hitchhiker (Zygmunt Malanowicz) they pick up on the way.
Andrzej is a self-confident, successful journalist, who enjoys power plays and mind games. Krystyna is more passive, quiet, and slightly detached from her husband. The hitchhiker is a young man who seems to be poor, lonely, and seeking some adventure. The initial interactions between the three are awkward and tense, with Andrzej trying to assert his authority over the stranger and Krystyna trying to be friendly without being flirtatious.
As the boat sails further into the lake, Andrzej challenges the hitchhiker to prove his worth by suggesting a race using their scuba gear. The hitchhiker agrees, but soon finds himself at a disadvantage. Meanwhile, Andrzej starts making suggestive comments and gestures towards Krystyna, to which she responds defensively. The tension builds up, as the hitchhiker becomes more assertive and flirtatious towards Krystyna, while Andrzej becomes more jealous and aggressive.
At one point, as they are preparing for a swim break, Andrzej accidentally knocks the hitchhiker overboard, causing him to panic and try to save the drowning man. However, the hitchhiker reappears unharmed, and it is not clear whether he jumped or was pushed. The rest of the film takes a darker turn, as the power dynamics shift and the characters reveal their true motives and desires.
Knife in the Water is a slow-burning, claustrophobic tale of masculinity, violence, and class struggle. It has been praised for its minimalist style, the use of sound and image to create a tense atmosphere, and the psychological depth of the characters. It was also a critical and commercial success, winning several awards at international film festivals and launching Polanski's career as a cinematic master of suspense.
