USA / 119’
language English
cast Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Doug Jones, Michael Stuhlbarg, Octavia Spencer
screenplay Guillermo del Toro, Vanessa Taylor
cinematographer Dan Lausten, DFF
editor Sidney Wolinsky, ACE
production designer Paul Austerberry
costume designer Luis Sequeira
music Alexandre Desplat
sound Glen Gauthier
special effects Warren Appleby
Guillermo Del Toro - The Shape of Water
Synopsis
The Shape of Water is an other-worldly fairy tale, set against the backdrop of Cold War era America circa 1962. In the hidden high-security government laboratory where she works, lonely Elisa is trapped in a life of isolation. Elisa’s life is changed forever when she and co-worker Zelda discover a secret classified experiment.
Director’s Statement
Fairy tales were born in times of trouble, in complicated times—when hope felt lost. I made The Shape of Water as an antidote to cynicism. For it seems to me that when we speak of love—when we believe in love—we do so in a hopeless way. We fear looking naïve and even disingenuous. But Love is real—absolutely real—and, like water, it is the most gentle and most powerful force in the Universe. It is free and formless until it pours into its recipient, until we let it in. Our eyes are blind. But our soul is not. It recognizes love in whatever shape it comes to us.