Girl with a Pearl Earring

It doesn’t really matter whether or not you’re aware of the fact that Girl with a Pearl Earring is an actual painting from the 17th century; the film works as a drama involving a young peasant girl. Scarlett Johansson stars as Griet, a 17-year-old sent to work as a servant in the Vermeer household. Patriarch Johannes (Colin Firth) is a tortured painter that hardly seems to enjoy his work, but there’s no denying his ample talent. But Vermeer’s lack of inspiration changes after he spots Griet cleaning a window in his study, and though his family and village disapprove, Vermeer begins to paint the young woman. Unlike a lot of films set in this time period, Girl with a Pearl Earring manages to entertain throughout – primarily due to Griet’s compelling nature. She’s someone we sympathize with, and because it occasionally seems as if everyone is against her (particularly Vermeer’s wife, who presumably suspects the two of having an affair), her plight becomes all-the-more intriguing. It’s that fish-out-of-water element that keeps the film interesting initially, with Griet working to insinuate herself into the lives of the Vermeer family (particularly Johannes, obviously). But as the movie progresses, it becomes more about Griet being painted secretly – which isn’t quite as compelling as her attempts to blend into the household. Still, director Peter Webber (making his debut) does a fantastic job of establishing the Dutch landscape of the past; the poorer areas are dank and dirty, while the wealthy neighborhoods are as elegant and ornate as one might imagine. It’s interesting to note that certain sequences – such as when Griet and a suitor walk through a forest – are shot in such a way as to look like paintings; as it turns out, this was intentional and such moments have been crafted to replicate actual, well-known paintings.

*** out of ****

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