Elisa was a mute and lived a quiet life in early 1960’s Baltimore. Giles was her gay neighbor. They enjoyed classic films, pie and talking through sign language. He was a starving artist and looking to breakthrough in advertising. She worked in a government facility as a janitor. Zelda, a black co-worker, was her other friend. She interrupted for her during shifts. They enjoyed the overnight shift in relative peace except for one beast. Richard Strickland was their boss and a scumbag. Yet, he would bring a thing that would change Elisa’s life. It was an Amphibian Man and he was odd just like her.
What would Strickland do with the creature from the Amazon? Was it able to communicate? What was the askew attraction between Elisa and the Amphibian?
The Shape of Water was directed and co-written by Guillermo Del Toro. Sally Hawkins was brilliant and sexy as Elisa. She managed to carve out a performance through body language and the grace of a ballerina. Richard Jenkins was comforting and understanding as Giles. He’s a man that we’ve all confided in at some point. He made life and culture an outlet for the two of them. Octavia Spencer was fiery and fierce as Zelda. She had the qualities of a strong woman that we see daily. She doesn’t take anyone’s mess and would speak up against the odds. Michael Shannon’s portrayal of Richard Strickland was wicked and tortured. Strickland made Christian Grey and Don Draper look like domesticated tabby cats. Doug Jones (Del Toro’s regular creature actor) was great as the Amphibian and somehow managed to capture our hearts.
Del Toro has used the Cold War perfectly to address bigotry, sexual harassment, racism and homophobia. Elisa and Zelda along with their female co-workers were subjected to the crass, sexist behavior of Mr. Strickland. Yet, this was several decades before Me Too and a few years prior to the Women’s Liberation movement. Giles, Elisa’s gay friend, wasn’t immune either. He had a career but something unspoken (if viewers read into the brilliant subtext) did or didn’t occur with a former co-worker. Also, he had to hide his love or affections for other men. The restaurant scene captured his plight and that of other minorities as well.
The Shape of Water is The Best Film of 2017. It’s a haunting fairy tale with heroes and villains. The technicolor landscape was mesmerizing. The story was timeless and timely. He has managed to illustrate our humanity and true need for connection. Love and acceptance are universal. Remember that.
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