听 With Roman Polanski's "The Pianist" sweeping the board at the last this DVD is a timely release for his debut feature "Knife in the Water", which soon put him on the map by getting an Oscar nomination. A little like an early "Dead Calm", a couple soon come to regret inviting a young man they don鈥檛 know on board their boat.
Released onto a fine new DVD, this is available as a single disc, or as part of a Roman Polanski Collection boxset.
TECHNICAL FEATURES
Picture Apart from some mild print damage the picture quality is good for such an old, low-budget feature.
Sound The 2.0 mono mix will be, for some, the best option as neither the Dolby and DTS 5.1 mixes are focused enough, with dialogue escaping to the rear speakers.
SPECIAL FEATURES
A Ticket to the West This new documentary effectively explores Polanski's first feature movie and the effect it had on his career within the restrictive Polish film industry. "Knife in the Water" was knifed in the back by many in the local industry as they saw Polanski as going too far politically. Actor Leon Niemczyk sums up the whole stupidity that forced Polanski out of Poland by describing the film as "a victory of beautiful cinema over mediocre people".
Indeed, the state bureaucracy meddled with aspects of the production, including not allowing a Mercedes car to appear in-shot. Incredibly, a member of the state cinema committee visited the set - driving the same model of Mercedes banned from being seen on film.
Additional Extra Features Also on the disc is an animated image gallery, detailed cast and crew biographies, and a booklet of notes and stills.
"Knife in the Water" is released on DVD in the UK on 25th August 2003.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Chapters: 18
Ratio: 1.33:1 (Fullscreen Academy ratio)
Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0, 5.1, and DTS 5.1
Audio Tracks: Polish
Subtitles: English
Captions: None
Menus: Animated, with music
Special Features Subtitles None of the special features come with subtitles.
This DVD was reviewed on a JVC XV-N5 DVD player.
