The Shape of Water

One Guillermo del Toro’s most successful films is the 2017 movie The Shape of Water, which follows the unlikely romance between Elisa (Sally Hawkins) and a humanoid amphibian (Doug Jones). But why did the filmmaker choose this particular alien-looking creature? In an interview with NPR, del Toro explained: “The beautiful thing about this creature is [it's] sort of the Michelangelo's David of those creatures. He's absolutely gorgeous in every proportion, in every sculptural detail." The film director also explained that his intention was showing the audience how having a deep connection with another living being can be beautiful, despite any challenges.

He added: “What is beautiful for me is that every single character that has the power of speech has problems communicating. And the two characters that [do not have] the power of speech — they are mute or wordless — they are actually communicating beautifully. The movie is about connecting with 'the other.' You know, the idea of empathy, the idea of how we do need each other to survive.”