The Shape of Water (2017)
Short description
The Shape of Water is a 2017 fantasy drama film directed by Guillermo del Toro and written by del Toro and Vanessa Taylor. It stars Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Doug Jones, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Octavia Spencer.
The film tells the story of Elisa (Hawkins), a mute woman who works as a janitor in a secret government laboratory in Baltimore during the Cold War. She discovers an amphibious creature (Jones) being held captive in the lab and forms an unlikely bond with it. When she learns that the creature is to be killed for scientific research, she decides to rescue it and set it free.
The Shape of Water is a visually stunning film that captures the beauty of its setting with its lush cinematography and production design. The art direction is top-notch, creating a world that feels both familiar and otherworldly at the same time. The score by Alexandre Desplat is also excellent, adding to the atmosphere of mystery and wonder that pervades throughout the movie.
The performances are all outstanding as well. Hawkins gives an incredibly moving performance as Elisa, conveying her emotions without speaking a single word. Shannon is also great as Strickland, playing him with just enough menace to make him intimidating but not so much that he becomes cartoonish or one-dimensional. Jenkins and Spencer are both wonderful in their supporting roles as well, providing some much needed comic relief amidst all the drama.
The Shape of Water is an emotionally powerful film that will stay with you long after you’ve seen it. It’s a beautiful love story between two unlikely creatures – one human and one not – set against the backdrop of Cold War paranoia and fear-mongering. Del Toro has crafted an exquisite piece of cinema here – one that will no doubt be remembered for years to come.