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- THE SHAPE OF WATER American Airlines Gala - BFI London Film Festival 2017
THE SHAPE OF WATER American Airlines Gala - BFI London Film Festival 2017
Master of things that go bump in the night, Guillermo del Toro spins the compelling tale of friendship between a mute woman and an amphibious creature. We spoke to Guillermo del Toro and Richard Jenkins on the red carpet at the BFI London Film Festival American Airlines Gala.
Drawing on classic 1950s sci-fi B-movies and the on-going fascination with Area 51 conspiracy theories, Guillermo del Toro's sprightliest tale of the inexplicable is an old-school cinematic joy. At the height of the Cold War, in a secret US laboratory, a young, mute woman begins to communicate with a strange, aquatic creature. Elisa (Sally Hawkins), whose only friends are her gay artist neighbour (Richard Jenkins) and a fellow cleaner (Octavia Spencer), is alarmed by the behaviour of research head Strickland (a deliciously cruel Michael Shannon), who sees the creature as nothing more than an oversized lab rat.
Love takes many shape-shifting forms and this intoxicating film is a pure celebration of tolerance and human connection.
Director: Guillermo del Toro, Produers: Guillermo del Toro, J. Miles Dale
Screenwriters: Guillermo del Toro, Vanessa Taylor
With Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Doug Jones, Michael Stuhlbarg, Octavia Spencer