By: Miguel Ernesto Yusty

THE SHAPE OF WATER, Guillermo del Toro's film that won the Golden Lion at the 2017 Venice Film Festival, has been screened at numerous events, receiving positive reviews and becoming the director's most acclaimed work to date. The recognition it has garnered is comparable only to that achieved with PAN'S LABYRINTH in 2006.

The Shape of Water is a love story based on the myth of the mermaids, who, in order to have legs and walk among humans, must sacrifice their voices. The film is also a spy story set during the Cold War, when the Russians and the Americans vied for scientific leadership. But above all, del Toro's film is a manifesto in favor of diversity.

The film is poetic from the very beginning. The music captivates the viewer, who can't take their eyes off the images conceived by Guillermo del Toro, who, from a very young age, became a master of makeup and special effects. The charm emanating from his characters is the product of an evolution that dates back to several previous films. The young protagonist of THE SHAPE OF WATER is reminiscent of the girl protagonist of PAN'S LABYRINTH and her sweetheart; it's a clear homage to Abe Sapien, the fish-man and Hellboy's best friend. THE SHAPE OF WATER is self-referential because Guillermo del Toro's universe is so vast that it can speak to itself in a coherent and engaging way.