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Shape of Water Director Guillermo del Toro Delivers Gorgeous Golden Globes Speech

January 9, 2018
By Kelle Long

With seven Golden Globe nominations, The Shape of Water took home only two, but it included one of the most impactful wins of the night. In a quiet moment after Oprah rocked the house, Guillermo del Toro finally got his moment on the stage. As Best Director for his film The Shape of Water, the visual genius gave an understated but poignant speech about the power of movies in his life. After spending 25 years in the business, del Toro’s words were a victory for every one of us who has ever felt like an outcast.

To anyone who loves searching for beauty in the shadows, del Toro is the master. Monsters are rampant in his films, but the ugliest characters are never what they seem. In Pan’s Labyrinth, unearthly creatures help Ofelia escape her sadistic stepfather, and Hellboy brought the beloved half demon hero to life, just to name a few. The Shape of Water makes the classic horror monster from the swamp a sympathetic character that lacks a fraction of the evil Richard Strickland (Michael Shannon) possesses.

“Since childhood I have been faithful to monsters,” del Toro said in his acceptance speech. “I have been saved and absolved by them because monsters, I believe, are patron saints of our blissful imperfection.” Del Toro’s main characters are often misunderstood or marginalized, and find acceptance among creatures who are different. His stories are a uniquely creative method of addressing depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues so many audiences can relate to.

Sally Hawkins, who was nominated for Best Actress for her role in the film, was moved to tears by del Toro’s speech. After her nomination today, Hawkins called the director “a master and visionary.”

Alexandre Desplat nabbed the Best Original Score statue at the Golden Globes, and The Shape of Water led the BAFTA nominations with twelve nods. Among them were cinematographer Dan Laustsen.

The Shape of Water is in theaters now.

Featured image: Richard Jenkins, director Guillermo del Toro and Sally Hawkins on the set of THE SHAPE OF WATER. Photo by Kerry Hayes. © 2017 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation All Rights Reserved

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelle Long

Kelle has written about film and TV for The Credits since 2016. Follow her on Twitter @molaitdc for interviews with really cool film and TV artists and only occasional outbursts about Broadway, tennis, and country music. Please no talking or texting during the movie. Unless it is a musical, then sing along loudly.