Content: 1962 during cold war in a government facility Elisa and her colleague Zelda care for the cleaning. One day a strange creature is delivered in a water tub. The amphibian was captured in south america and is going to be examined for military purposes. While head of the institution Mr Strickland isn't very kind to the sentient being Elisa befriends it. She can't talk but by using sign language she finds out that the creature is intelligent and emphatic. After the ruthless interrogation by Strickland is over unsuccessfully, Elisa fears that her amphibious friend will be hurt and tries to set him free.

Opinion: Shape of water was conceived by director del Toro in an elaborate and detailed fashion. Attention is focused on the relationship between Elisa and the creature, who are more similar than you would think. Both persons don't speak and like water after all. The fairytale got a lot of deserved prizes for scene design, music and directing. The timing is very felicitous. But there are some minor flaws too: The typical unnecessary and absurd display of violence, some logic faults, inacurate use of technologic inventions for the time and slow pace.