The film has Krzysztof Komeda’s jazzy soundtrack, which makes it feel a bit like an American B-movie from that era (such as Roger Corman’s The Last Woman On Earth), save that the screenplay and other technical aspects are much higher. By the film’s end, the light score give sway to a gloomier soundtrack, reminiscent of Bernard Herrmann’s score for Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver.
The acting is quite good, although in an interview on The Criterion Collection DVD, Polanski states that Umecka and Malanowicz were inexperienced actors (Polanski even dubbed Malanowicz’s voice with his own), while Niemczyk was the only pro. And this shows, and works to the film’s advantage, as Niemczyk’s professional assuredness helps highlight the difference between his character and Malanowicz’s.
Yet, despite the manifest oneupsmanship between the men, there is also a more subtle simmering tension between husband and wife. The film starts off in the middle of an argument, when he takes over the driving from her, but the rest of the film portrays the malicious and passive/aggressive cracks in their marriage. The very fact that Andrzej invites a younger, studlier male to come with them is his almost daring his wife to try to prefer the younger man. He taunts the younger man with games and skills at sailing, and laughs when he fails. In retaliation, the nameless man pulls out a fancy knife, and performs the old parlor trick of quickly stabbing the knife between his and Andrzej’s outstretched fingers.
A storm strands them on the lake overnight, and Krystyna and the blond youth bond in the morning, as Andrzej sleeps. They had first felt attraction the previous evening when they sang and recited poetry as Andrzej tuned out to listen to a boxing match on radio. Sensing something amiss, Andrzej picks a fight with the hitchhiker when he accidentally on purpose tosses his valued knife overboard (hence the film’s title). After a row, he sends the youngster into the water. Earlier, the hitchhiker claimed he could not swim, but Andrzej believes he is lying. Both husband and wife frantically search for him, but the hitchhiker can swim, and hides behind a buoy, thus gaining the advantage over his older foe.
The couple swim back to the boat, and Krystyna prevents Andrzej from tossing the youth’s other possessions overboard, to cover up the "death." She then humiliates him into doing another search, and the two reveal the bile they hold for each other. Andrzej also fears that he will be charged with manslaughter. The hitchhiker swims back to the boat, and he and Krystyna flirt, then kiss, then have sex.
Article comments
1 - Mat Brewster
Nice review. I watched this a couple of weeks ago and found it mesmerizing. I really loved all the tight shots inside the boat. Good stuff!
2 - bliffle
It's a fine movie. Available from Netflix, too.