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Knife in the Water ()

Nóz w wodzie (original title)
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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.
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Awards:
  • Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win & 1 nomination.
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109 photos

Cast verified as complete

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Andrzej
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Krystyna
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Young Man
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
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Krystyna (uncredited) (voice)
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Young Man (uncredited) (voice)

Directed by

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Roman Polanski

Written by

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Jakub Goldberg ... (scenario)
 
Roman Polanski ... (scenario)
 
Jerzy Skolimowski ... (dialogue)
 
Jerzy Skolimowski ... (scenario)

Produced by

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Stanislaw Zylewicz ... producer

Music by

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Krzysztof Komeda ... (as Krzysztof T. Komeda)

Cinematography by

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Jerzy Lipman

Editing by

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Halina Prugar-Ketling ... (as Halina Prugar)

Editorial Department

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Maria Karpowicz ... assistant editor

Production Design by

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Boleslaw Kamykowski

Makeup Department

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Zdzislaw Papierz ... makeup artist

Production Management

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Josef Krakowski ... production manager
Jerzy Laskowski ... assistant production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Jakub Goldberg ... assistant director
Andrzej Kostenko ... assistant director
Maria Pietrzak ... assistant director

Art Department

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Jerzy Bossak ... artistic director

Sound Department

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Halina Paszkowska ... sound
Jerzy Szawlowski ... sound assistant

Camera and Electrical Department

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Andrzej Gronau ... camera operator
Julian Magda ... assistant camera
Józef Nasiadka ... assistant camera
Jerzy Szurowski ... assistant camera

Music Department

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Bernt Rosengren ... musician: saxophone

Additional Crew

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Jerzy Stefan Stawinski ... literary director (as Jerzy Stawinski)
Crew verified as complete

Production Companies

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Distributors

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Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

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. Written by Huggo

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Certification

Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • Nóż w wodzie (Poland)
  • Knife in the Water (United States)
  • Knife in the Water (Europe, English title)
  • Knife in the Water (World-wide, English title)
  • Knife in the Water (Canada, English title)
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Runtime
  • 94 min
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Filming Locations

Did You Know?

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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. See more »
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. See more »
Movie Connections Edited into Catalogue of Ships (2008). See more »
Soundtracks Towing the Boat See more »
Quotes Young Boy: [after kissing Kyrstyna] I'm sorry.
Krystyna: Don't be silly.
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