Knife in the Water (1962) - Roman Polanski

Let me start by saying that Knife in the Water is probably one of my favorite films ever.  Justin and I both watched it for the first time about two weeks ago and I spent the better part of that weekend talking about it to anyone that would listen.  "You need to stop annoying our friends."  I need our friends to watch the film so I have someone to talk to about it.

Knife in the Water was Roman Polanski's first feature film and America's introduction to the brilliant but often polarizing Polish filmmaker.  The premise of the story is simple-Krystyna and Andrzej, a wealthy couple, pick up a young hitchhiker and eventually invite him on a boating excursion for the day.  As the trio sets sail events unfold which have profound effects on the politics and psychological dynamics of Andrzej, Krystyna, and their guest who remains unnamed throughout the film  The work is both dark and unsettling as Polanski skillfully lures viewers into a state of heightened awareness and anxiety only to relieve it with light scenes of blissful sailing before the film's penultimate climax.

The film features 3 characters and is shot almost entirely on the boat named for the beautiful Krystyna who bears an uncanny resemblance to Jacqueline Kennedy.  The wind unexpectedly stops while the trio anchors the boat for lunch, leading to much frustration from the hitchhiker.  As events unfold and tension is ratcheted up, viewers want nothing more than a reprieve from the the unsettling atmosphere but like our characters, we are stuck on the boat.  When the wind finally picks up, tension on the boat is relieved and as a result, the tension we feel as viewers is relieved.  In this, Polanski cleverly plays with the notion that these characters are at the mercy of the wind much like viewers are at the mercy of him, the storyteller.

Polanski's work is true masterpiece of film making and story telling.  It is a true testament to Polanski's genius that a film shot so simply and with such a simple story line can be so good.  There are no special effects or plot twists to speak of but the film will keep you on the edge of your seat until the screen cuts to black.  Part of the appeal (or is it fear?) is that viewers don't know the so-called "rules" of this film world.  Viewers simply don't know what these characters are or are not capable of and that unknown translates to the uncomfortable and uneasy feeling that Polanski intends to establish.