‘Shape of Water’ Featurette: An Ancient Force

This may very well be the most sensitive asset

ever to be housed in this facility.

[Guillermo] The movie is at the height of the Cold War

between Russia and America.

[Giles] Our only concern is the asset.

The Soviets want it.

Everybody's obsessed with getting to the future:

the Cadillacs, the Jello puddings, the modern clothes.

And in the meantime, there's this ancient force

working amongst all that modernity.

The government is trying to figure out

whatever this creature's gifts are

can be utilized towards the space program.

We need to take it apart, learn how it works.

The story is about the invisible people:

the help.

It's a love story between two characters

not quite like you've ever seen it before.

It's a creature.

It's a living, breathing heart.

So beautiful, it's all I saw.

Get him out?

What are you talking about?

No.

With this story, the humans are the monsters.

[Robert] I don't want an intricate,

beautiful thing destroyed.

Guillermo calls it a fairy tale for troubled times,

and it is very much that.

I mean, not just then, but for now.

There's something really beautiful about it

because what the story is actually saying

about who we are as human beings

and who we want to be as human beings.

The way it embraces love;

we need this film in the world today.

[Giles] If I spoke about it, what would I say?