Moviola > Films > Girl with a Pearl Earring

Girl with a Pearl Earring  (12A)   103 mins

"Beauty inspires obsession"

Taken from the novel by Tracy Chevalier and starring Colin Firth, Scarlett Johanssen and Tom Wilkinson, this is a true visual feast.  Each segment of this film takes one's breath away as it faithfully recreates not just the city of Delft in the late 17th century but also the feel and colour of Vermeer's paintings.  Griet (Johanssen) comes to Vermeer's home as an illiterate servant but her duties take her to her master's studio.  Here she shows an instinctive affinity for the artistic process and Vermeer (Firth) arranges for them to spend more time together.  His obsession with her beauty becomes obvious to Catharina, his jealous and possessive wife, and her scheming mother (wonderfully played by Judy Parfitt).  Caught in the middle, Griet must also cope with the lust of Vermeer's oily patron, Van Ruijven (Wilkinson) who agrees to continue his patronage if Vermeer will paint Griet.  Thus, the servant girl becomes the subject of Vermeer's most famous work.  This is an absorbing, immensely rewarding film, quiet, thoughtful and with a mesmerising performance from 18-year-old Johanssen who is surely destined to become a huge star.

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Last modified: 27-Feb-2009

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