Knife in the Water (1962) poster5

Poland10 Essential Polish FilmsStop 5 of 10

Knife in the Water

Nóż w wodzie

1962

A well-off couple invites a young hitchhiker aboard their sailboat for a day on the lake, and the husband's needling games of dominance build into a taut, simmering contest of masculinity. Roman Polanski's tense, acclaimed debut.

Why it’s here

A Polish chamber thriller and key international breakthrough for Polish cinema.

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Part of 10 Essential Polish Films

This film is stop 5 of 10 in the hand-ranked native-cinema route through Poland. See the complete ranking or read the selection methodology.

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