A Modern Fairytale

Rating: 10/10 (31 December 2018)

Del Toro's execution of an innocent fairytale set in a less than innocent world is a delicate balancing act that pierces the viewer's cynicism and leaves them inspired and connected to their child-like wonder. The tone and sentimentality reminds me of "Cinema Paradisio" or "Amelie," but "The Shape of Water" grapples with much more complex themes, such as prejudice and cruelty, and still manages to leave me charmed.