The Plumber

The second of only three films by Weir based on his own idea and screenplay (the next would not come until Green Card in 1990). The Plumber is a minor classic of the witty yet unsettling home-invasion thriller genre, in which the orderly life (and cozy home) of a middle-class couple is suddenly invaded by a force of uncouthness and magnetism in the form of the titular plumber.

Fans of Roman Polanski’s work will easily recognize echoes of Knife in the Water (1961) and The Tenant (1976) in the character of Max (Ivar Kants). The grimy, shaggy handyman insists on repairing the pipes in the apartment of the sophisticated Jill (Judy Morris) and Brian (Robert Coleby), who, though he studies anthropology, has no idea that an extraordinary human specimen has just entered his home—someone who must not be ignored.

The game that begins to unfold between Jill and Max has class, economic, and erotic undertones, and Weir proves that he doesn’t need stunning outback landscapes or Hanging Rock to build an atmosphere of horror and mystery. The Plumber barely leaves the four walls of the marital home, and yet it disturbs, entertains, and provokes—after watching it, you’ll think twice before stepping into your own bathroom!

Michał Oleszczyk

Peter Weir (b. 1944) – director, screenwriter, and producer, and one of the central figures of the Australian New Wave. In the 1970s, he played a crucial role in establishing Australian cinema on the international stage, creating films marked by an atmosphere of mystery, spirituality, and quiet unease. He later transitioned smoothly from auteur filmmaking to Hollywood while retaining his distinctive voice, consistently exploring outsiders, individuals in conflict with systems of power, and the metaphysical dimensions of reality. A six-time Academy Award nominee, Weir has received numerous major honours, including an Honorary Oscar (2022) and the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement (2024). He is a master of intelligent yet accessible cinema – one who has reached global audiences without ever sacrificing artistic depth or sensitivity.

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