The Shape of Water (2017)

When ‘The Shape of Water’ was released, I was intrigued all because of a meme I received from a Bengali friend.

“Shape of water, a film about a human falling in love with a fish is being universally called a cinematic brilliance but when Bengalis do the same thing, suddenly it is ‘stereotypical’ and maccher jhol Bengali pagol”

I couldn’t stop laughing when I received the meme, and as I was slowly recovering from yet another episode, I missed watching the movie. I may have looked up the Wikipedia entry once.

I maintain a list of ‘Best Picture’ from the Oscars and Golden Globes, and recently found the movie on OTT and watched it in 3-4 sittings. I no longer mind watching a movie for a bit and then returning to it when I find the time.

Set in the 1960s in North America during the Cold war, the fantasy movie has a mute female protagonist who communicates fluently via sign language, and gets acquainted with a humanoid amphibian at a laboratory. The Amphibian Man has healing powers and has been forcibly brought in from South America. She feeds him, and slowly forms a romantic, reciprocal bond with him. The development of the bond is beautiful to watch as the Amphibian Man also cannot speak, and both rely on their body language to communicate. She understands him, and doesn’t react with anger (for instance) when she finds him devouring a cat of her closeted gay neighbour. This neighbour plays a pivotal role in helping her rescue the Amphibian Man, and in her happy-ever-after ending.

What I also found beautiful is the portrayal of disability, and how it doesn’t prevent her from leading a normal life. She has a close friend at work who is unconditionally supportive, she opposes harassment – the harasser’s portrayal is particularly convincing - and she stands up for what she believes in.

The movie has many nude scenes, and while initially it seemed completely out of context and unnecessary, as the story builds on, they start to make more sense. I wonder if the scenes were retained when the movie was released in India. 

I still think ‘Lady Bird’ is a better movie from 2017, but it is good to see fantasy rewarded by the Oscars.