The Shape of Water (2017)
- To accurately portray their role in The Shape of Water, Sally Hawkins spent weeks conducting hands-on research and rehearsing directly with director Guillermo del Toro.
- The Shape of Water utilized mostly practical sets and locations to ground the story, a specific choice insisted upon by Guillermo del Toro.
The Shape of Water is a 2017 American romantic fantasy drama film directed by Guillermo del Toro, who also co-wrote the screenplay. Set in Baltimore in 1962 during the Cold War, the film follows Elisa Esposito, a mute janitor played by Sally Hawkins who works at a secret government laboratory. When a mysterious amphibious humanoid creature is brought to the facility for study, Elisa discovers a profound connection with it and gradually falls in love, defying the violent government agent Colonel Strickland, played by Michael Shannon, who intends to dissect the creature for intelligence purposes.
Guillermo del Toro described the film as a fairy tale for troubled times, and his lifelong fascination with monsters, mythology, and the beauty of the outcast infused every frame. The production design meticulously recreated early 1960s Baltimore in lush teal and green tones, creating a world that was simultaneously grounded in period reality and suffused with fantasy. Sally Hawkins delivered one of the most remarkable performances of the decade, conveying an entire emotional range without speaking a word, communicating through sign language, facial expression, and physical movement.
Alexandre Desplat's waltz-like score perfectly captured the film's romantic, melancholic tone. The Shape of Water won four Academy Awards from thirteen nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director, making del Toro the first Mexican-born filmmaker to win the latter prize. The film earned $195 million worldwide on a $19 million budget.
