The Shape of Water
dir. Guillermo del Toro · 2017
Love can transcend boundaries and connect beings in ways that defy societal norms.
Feature
Forbidden Love
Mood
Romantic / Melancholic
Look
richly textured, with a blend of retro and fantastical elements, featuring lush, saturated colors that evoke a sense of otherworldliness
Structure
nonlinear with flashbacks and dream sequences
Plot
An other-worldly story, set against the backdrop of Cold War era America circa 1962, where a mute janitor working at a lab falls in love with an amphibious man being held captive there and devises a plan to help him escape.
Why watch
"The Shape of Water" is a visually enchanting tale of love that transcends boundaries, where a mute janitor discovers romance in the most unexpected of places. With its lush aesthetics and fairy tale narrative, this film invites viewers to explore the depths of connection in a world fraught with cultural divides.
Cultural context
Cold War tensionsthe rise of feminist narrativesthe portrayal of disabilitythe interplay of science and myth