The Shape of Water
At the height of the Cold War, two workers in a US government laboratory discover a terrifying secret experiment, in this otherworldly fairy-tale from Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth). Winner of four Oscars, including best picture.
In 1963, Elisa works as a janitor at a US government laboratory. One night, a strange, amphibious creature is wrangled into the facility. Elisa is more fascinated than frightened. What scares her more is the threat posed by the federal agent in charge. Cruel and self-serving, he seems convinced the surest way to handle the mysterious creature is to kill it. With the help of her neighbour Giles, her co-worker Zelda, and a sympathetic scientist, Elisa hatches a plan to save the creature’s life, at the risk of her own.
Strange marvels abound in THE SHAPE OF WATER. Marshalling these remarkable performances together with stunning production design, fluid camerawork, and Alexandre Desplat’s gorgeous score, del Toro delivers unforgettable film poetry. Movie fans will luxuriate in the wealth of references to classic monster movies and mid-century thrillers. Some will note the film’s layered subtexts of social critique. But none of that is necessary to enjoy the pure pleasure of watching a master filmmaker working at the height of his powers, exploring the world he most loves.