Girl With a Pearl Earring

 

 

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This film captures social, cultural and everyday life in 17th Century Holland beautifully and artistically through the eyes of Griet, a young hired servant who works in the household of a famous Dutch artist. Her emotions are captured superbly by the camera through long and short shots of her facial features. Griet is perfectly portrayed by Scarlett Johanssen. Essentially, the film is about the relationship that develops very gradually and subtley between the artist Johannes Vermeer and Griet as she learns about creating art. She is sent by her family to work in their house because her father is ill and the family needs the money. Griet learns a lot about different lifestyles and class differences by living with this family. She sees how the artist and his family totally depend on the patron for their living. They plan a grand dinner for the patron, Van Ruijven and his family to unveil the completion of a portrait of his wife and also to celebrate the birth of a baby into the Vermeer household. The dependency of the artist and his family on the patron, the absolute need to accomodate to his personal tastes and wishes, no matter what his character and behavior ... even to the point of compromise and deception within the Vermeer family is very well shown. Griet's own limited choices in life, her budding friendship with the butcher's son, the possibility for romance and a future together is nicely presented.

The flow of life within the Vermeer household is artistically filmed using different color schemes and shadings of light ... portrayng the life of the servants contrasted with the life of the family. Colin Firth plays Vermeer, the quiet, handsome, brooding and thoughtful artist ... He shuts himself off in his studio to paint, to create artistic pieces using elegant color and light, capturing distinct moods and feelings. His wife Catherine is less artistic and more shallow. She is viewed as the dependent, spoiled wife of the artist, whose wit and charm can have a razor sharp edge when they are crossed. Her instincts register a threat after Griet's sleeping quarters are moved to the artists studio although the move is done to provide privacy for another servant. When Catherine again becomes pregnant ... Catherine's mother makes clear that everyone depends on Vermeer for their livlihoods - she is not averse to deceiving her own daughter by letting Johannes paint Griet in order to continue their lifestyle. Griet is warned by Pietr, the butcher's son, "you are a fly in his web". The character of Van Ruijven is very well explored ... catering to his whims and procliviites. There are several episodes within the film where Catherine's shrewish jealous fits are sure signs that Griet's future is not assured within this family structure. Rumors surface at the marketplace about Griet and the artist. Amazingly, there is a magnificent conclusion to the events of Griet's relationship with Johannes Vermeer. The ending is quite touching and sensitively filmed. For this viewer, it was a total surprise.

Erika Borsos (pepper flower)

Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson star in Girl With a Pearl Earring which both of these people gradually become attracted to one another. First off I just loved how the movie was filmed. It made me really sucked into a big glimpse how the 1600's was like. The art direction, cinematography, and the costume designs were marvelous and deserved to be nominated for the Oscars in those categories. The music was enchanting which made the movie even more beautiful. Last but certainly not least I loved the acting too. Scarlett Johansson played a very polished performance and Colin Firth did a wonderful job as the mysterious painter. Love it! Love it! The only thing I will criticize with the DVD is the bonus materials. There isn't enough there. Only two things! But otherwise, this was an EXCELLENT movie. Watch it!

Watching "Girl With A Pearl Earring" is like walking into one of Johannes Vermeer's exquisite paintings. Eduardo Serra's cinematography is brilliant and captures, remarkably, the luminescent quality of light in Delft - the same light which Vermeer so skillfully put to use in his masterpieces. Serra's visuals give us a glimpse of what Holland must have been like in 1665. Through Director Peter Webber's camera we view scenes as if they are painted on canvas - the shimmer of silk cloth, of water in the canals, of the sun on snow; the haze of sunlight through clouds, light through a window; the brilliance of color contrasted with dark shadows; scenes as beautifully composed as a great painting. Daylight, candle and shadow are used dramatically. The atmosphere is as rich as an artist's palette.

Not much is known about the Dutch master, who lived and worked in 17th century Delft. Only 35 of his paintings survive. Among these works, perhaps his greatest, is the portrait, "Girl With A Pearl Earring." Director Webber has transformed Tracy Chevalier's novel, of the same name, into this extraordinary movie for the big screen.

Scarlett Johansson is superb as the young servant girl, Griet, who is sent to the Vermeer household to work after her father has an incapacitating accident. The labor is pure drudgery and seemingly endless, with little pay and fewer thanks. Since the Vermeers are dependent on wealthy patrons to commission paintings, money is tight and Vermeer's young wife is pregnant almost every year. Griet's work is made more difficult by jealous coworkers, the brood of spoiled Vermeer children, the suspicious wife and her manipulating mother, (Essie Davis), who holds the purse strings tightly.

Griet's unusual intelligence begins to show, as does her curiosity and sensitivity. She is fascinated by Vermeer's work and the world of light and color. She wonders, at one point, whether to wash the murky studio windows and risk losing the precious quality of muted light. This is not just an ordinary maid. She has a quality of stillness and purity about her which attracts Vermeer, (Colin Firth is wonderful as the brooding artist), as well as his super rich, lecherous patron, (Tom Wilkinson). Eventually, Griet is pressured to sit for a portrait, which will, centuries later, be marveled at.

The production design and period settings are award-worthy. Olivia Hetreed's screenplay is excellent. She places as much emphasis on silence as she does on dialogue and the result is extremely effective. And the cast is exceptional. Johansson's and Firth's performances are nuanced and subtle.

Vermeer is one of my favorite artists and I have traveled far to see his available work. I watched "Girl With A Pearl Earring" twice in as many days. It is a wonderful movie and an extraordinary visual experience. A must see!
JANA

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4.0 out of 5 stars Girl with a pearl earring.
This movie was very slow moving and not for those who do not enjoy beautiful scenes from a period film. Read more

Published 6 months ago by Diana Wilson

4.0 out of 5 stars Chick flick...not
I ordered this movie for my wife since we had recently vacationed in the Netherlands and visited Delft. Being a dutiful husband I sat down to watch it with her and... Read more

Published 10 months ago by Gordon Walter

2.0 out of 5 stars For die hard Scarlett J. (or Colin Firth or Tom Wilkinson) fans only
Other reviewers have covered the characters and the plot, so I'll just state our opinions. We thought this was a well-made film in many ways, and there were enjoyable moments, but... Read more

Published 10 months ago by Kolyenka K

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful
What a lovely, lovely film. All the parts are perfectly cast, the story is beautiful, sensitive and refreshingly believeable and honest. Read more

Published on May 30 2008 by Estrild

1.0 out of 5 stars White, yellow, blue
My review to this story I wish It was me with the pearl earring, because I want to know the Painter, he is a really good, fantastic painter I known of reading his biography, too... Read more

Published on Feb 8 2006 by malo

2.0 out of 5 stars r e a l l y ssslllloooowwww
This movie is about Scarlett Johanssen's mouth. Or maybe just her lips. Just in case you're not convinced, she gets to lick her lips not once, or twice, but three, maybe four... Read more

Published on Feb 9 2005 by Robert B

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb
This was one of the best movies that I've seen in years. A magnificent, sensuous, and yet amazingly subtle film.

Published on July 18 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars Just like the painting
This film was nominated for three academy awards: Art Direction, Costume Design, and Cinematography. Read more

Published on July 13 2004 by Jonathan Appleseed

5.0 out of 5 stars A Masterpiece!!
I have never seen such a beautiful movie since Amadeus. It seems as if every scene of this film is a Vermeer painting and they are all breathtaking. Read more

Published on July 11 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars Inside the Classic Painting
"Girl With the Pearl Earring" is a great film release of 2003, starring Scarlett Johannson, Colin Firth, and Tom Wilkinson. Read more

Published on July 9 2004 by David Anderson

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