If you don't know much about painting, or Verneer for that matter, you don't have to worry. 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' is not about the painting of the title itself; the film is rather a romance behind the (much fictional) account of the making of the painting, or the forbidden relation between a man and a girl. As such, it is stunning, so are the actors, especially Scarlet Johanssen.
The simple story begins with a girl Griet perfectly played by New-York-State born Johanssen. Living in Holland, 1665 (around the time the painting is supposed to be made), Griet now has to work at the painter Verneer's house as maid, and as you may expect, the menial jobs only make the life there very drab.
But the painter himself, rather strange, and laconic guy Verneer (Colin Firth, with long hair), is not a bad master. By the time she understands that, she actually becomes the only person who in turn understands the importance of his work in the entire household of his. And the painter, whose wife just don't understand, and who is surrounded by many (more than 10) kids, also finds a solace in her....
The film could be more melodramatic, and some part almost become so (the theatrical portrait of Tom Wilkinson's greedy patron nearly did it), but thanks largely to the subtle lighting of photographer Eduardo Serra (known for Patrice Leconte films) and very credible production designs by Ben Van Oz (known for Peter Greenaway films), the film itself becomes a Vermeer painting itself. The story, relying on less dialogues than other costume films, manages to be engaging and involving, with the superb acting from the two leads.
But the greatest thing happens at the ending, which is inspired by the original painting. How to end a film is one of the trickiest parts of the job, and 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' ends with a very clever, and also beautiful way. It still remains with me.
Some may call the film predictable, but that is a minor thing. As a costume drama this film is first-rate, but first and foremost it is a romance with a heart, the very universal theme. Girl With a Pearl Earring
Peter Webber's film "Girl With A Pearl Earring" speculates about the events around the painting of Vermeer's masterpiece of the same name. The art direction, costumes, sets and cinematography do a fantastic job of invoking that time period. Small details such as how the actual paint was made from the various ingredients Vermeer would gather add a wonderful authenticity to the proceedings.Scarlett Johansson portrays Griet, a young woman from a family that has come upon financial hardhip only recently and needs Griet to work to help support the family. Griet goes to be the maid in the household of the great Painter.As a woman in a male-dominated society of centuries ago, eons before words like "political correctness" or "sexual harrassment" were coined, Griet is subject to the whims of her social superiors, and as maid almost everyone she meets is socially her superior. Griet has spunk, though, and I liked the scene where Vermeer's bratty daughter deliberately smears Griet's freshly hung laundry with her muddy hand - Griet slaps the brat, then goes to pack her things thinking she is about to be let go.Vermeer sees something in Griet that he doesn't see in his family or acquaintances. Griet has an artists eye, and an eagerness for learning, so Vermeer becomes both her master (as in employer) and her mentor. Complications arise as Vermeer's wife does not possess the artistic eye and is insanely jealous, and Vermeer's wealthy patron Van Ruijven pays the bills but doesn't hesitate to puts his eyes and hands on any woman he cares to.I found the work realistic, and the movie has a real orchestral score that compliments the film well. Highly recommended for those with an artistic bent.
It is a joy to watch this definitive art movie, helped with one of the most exceptional cinemaphotagraphy ever made. The entire film was like stepping into a painting and each scene is like a painting in itself. It always amazes me how good a movie can be with so little dialogue spoken. A good actor can speak volumes with just a glance. A stolen glance, or a seemingly accidental touch between the two central characters---the artist Johannes Vermeer and his iridescent house maid Griet, communicated more subtly than any words could ever. I have always loved Flemish paintings for their simplicity and the use of light. And this is story telling at its best, a movie with heart and soul...about a painting many art critics call "The Mona Lisa of the North."
This is not a fast paced movie. Vermeer's paintings are incredibly hypnotic, drawing us into a time and place that no longer exists. The elementally envigorating music mixes well with the time and place. It's good to be transported several centuries back to live for a moment through the eyes of Griet (Johanson) and Vermeer (Firth). They played well the repressed passion between the two that was so thrilling where the film stayed so close to the plot of the book. I would recommend this film to anyone who has an eye for beauty or films that involve thought and emotion rather than just gratuitous explosions of violence and random sex...despite some flawed pieces in the story line: In the film, as in the book, the painting is commissioned by the patron Van Ruiven specifically because he is in lust with Griet, and Van Ruiven carefully specified who he wanted to be in it (Griet). Katarina's (Vermeer's wife) fury towards the end of the film therefore doesn't make sense at all.
Also Vermeer's gift to Griet of the pearl earrings is not believable. At the end of the film (and story), Vermeer would have known that after several years, Griet was married and living comfortably, while his eleven children were going to be destitute when he is gone. It is hard to believe that he would have given away valuable pearls to a former maid, even under the strength of his feelings for her, when the earrings weren't even his to give; they belonged to his wife.
Still the movie is a stunning visual experience. GWAPE is a Vermeer painting come to life. The cinematography was marvelous, but the editing and direction didn't live up to what could have been a more magical film about obsession, love, beauty and art. Not that the film doesn't work, because it does...it just feels incomplete as a whole. I ended watching the movie wanting more out of the experience. All of this said, it is still a gorgeous, worthwhile film... just one that isn't as great in the end as it should have been. It won't go down as a great film, but there is a great film lurking somewhere inside it.
Colin Firth brings his considerable repertoire of talents as the enigmatic Johannes Vermeer and makes him a formidable figure with sparse dialogue. Scarlet is the perfect Greit. Perhaps it is Scarlet Johanson's movie, and it may very well be. But Firth has the film in his own quiet and strong competent grasp. All the actors are outstanding...and this memorable movie is worthy to be seen again and again.
5 out of 5 - Scarlett Johansson - Period Movie - Based On The Novel - Fiction And Literature'
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