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Features: DVD, Aspect Ratio 1.33:1, Black & White, Mono Audio, English, Subtitled
Roman Polanski's first feature is a brilliant psychological thriller that many critics still consider among his greatest work. The story is simple, yet the implications of its characters' emotions and actions are profound. When a young hitchhiker joins a couple on a weekend yacht trip, psychological warfare breaks out as the two men compete for the woman's attention. A storm forces the small crew below deck, and tension builds to a violent climax. With stinging dialogue and a mercilessly probing camera, Polanski creates a disturbing study of fear, humiliation, sexuality, and aggression. This remarkable directorial debut won Polanski worldwide acclaim, a place on the cover of Time, and his first Oscar nomination.
Editor's Note
Roman Polanski's first feature-length film is a suspenseful three-person chamber drama reminiscent of the work of Ingmar Bergman. KNIFE IN THE WATER was filmed in the director's native Poland and financed through government subsidies. Although denounced by local authorities as devoid of any significant social or political content, the film caused a minor sensation in the West, was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Foreign Film, and even made the cover of Time magazine. The action takes place almost entirely within the confined setting of a sailboat owned by a wealthy journalist (Leon Niemczyk) and his much younger wife (Jolanta Umecka). On their way to the lake for a weekend of sailing, they are accosted by a young hitchhiker (Zygmunt Malanowicz) who jumps in front of their car, forcing them to stop. Annoyed by the youth's daredevil posturing, the journalist nevertheless decides to invite him to join the couple on their boat, initiating a series of playfully competitive games between the two men. Playfulness soon gives way to hostility, however, as each tries to outshine and humiliate the other in front of the woman, who appears to be taking a more than casual interest in her husband's young rival.
Plot Summary
Roman Polanski's directorial debut, his final film-school dissertation, captures the tension between a mismatched couple who pick up a hitchhiker and take him on a weekend yacht voyage.
| Features | 8 Early Short Films By Director Roman Polanski | | Subtitles: English | | Video Interview With Director Roman Polanski And Co-Screenwriter Jerzy Skolimowski | | A Collection Of Rare Publicity And Production Stills | | English Subtitle Translation By Roman Polanski |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: Image |
| Release Date: 9/30/2003 |
| Running Time: 94 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1963 | | Catalog ID: 020 | | UPC: 00037429149324 | | Number of Discs: 2 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: Polish | | Available Audio Tracks: Polish | | Available Subtitles: English | | Video: B&W |
Aspect Ratio | | 4:3 |
| Cast & Crew | Jolanta Umecka | | Leon Niemczyk | | Zygmunt Malanowicz | | Jerzy Lipman - Cinematographer | | Roman Polanski - Director | | Halina Prugar-Ketling - Editor | | Christopher Komeda - Musical Score | | Stanislaw Zylewicz - Producer | | Boleslaw Kamykowski - Production Designer | | Anna Ciepielewska - Voice Of | | Jakub Goldberg - Writer | | Roman Polanski - Writer |
| Awards |
Oscar (1964) | | | Nominee, Best Foreign Language Film | |
British Academy Awards (1964) | | | Nominee, Best Picture |
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| | Professional Reviews | Entertainment Weekly
"...Polanski's brilliant first feature....Still packs a punch..." -- Rating:A 01/26/1996 pp.66-8Los Angeles Times
"...[The film] has a taut and creepy impact, like a bug crawling up your arm..." 10/25/1991 p.F29 USA Today
"...It still compels watching these head games play out..." 10/17/2003 p.6E |
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