Film Review № 1. Girl with a Pearl Earring

Directed by Peter Webber

Produced by Andy Paterson  Anand Tucker
Screenplay by Olivia Hetreed
Based on Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier

Starring

Colin Firth
Scarlett Johansson
Tom Wilkinson
Cillian Murphy
Judy Parfitt

Music by Alexandre Desplat

Cinematography Eduardo Serra

Editing by Kate Evans

Plot

Griet (Scarlett Johanson) has to find job because her father has become unable to provide for his family. She is sent to be servant in a house of  an artist -  Johannes Vermeer (Colin Firth). Gradually she attracts his attention by the elegance and refinement which are uncommon for the girl of her low social status. However Vermeer finds out her wonderful abilities to work with colors and light and decides to show her the world of art and beauty by giving her lessons. Vermeer's mother-in-law, Maria Thins (Judy Parfitt) sees closeness between them as well as quick development of relationships which is far from relations between employer and employee, but doesn’t prevent it and even encourages in some way, seeing the young housemaid as the source of his inspiration. Her aim is very merchant as she is used to live at the expense of income of Vermeer’s work.  Meanwhile Vermeer's rich patron Van Ruijven is attached by Griet and asks the artist to paint her. Vermeer agrees but the situation is getting worse and worse as Vermeer’s wife Catherina feels jealousy and Van Ruijven makes an attempt to rape the young girl. While painting, Gariet wears Catherina’s pearl earnings as they would make Griet’s appearance as well as the painting on the whole complete. When Catherina finds out it, her jealousy of Griet becomes apparent and she, after unsuccessful attempt to destroy the painting, banishes her. The film ends with Griet receives the gift – a headscarf she was wearing during the painting and Catherina’s pearl earnings.

Direction

I think that the director of the film has made great work. He has proved to be the real professional in directing such kind of movies. Peter Webber’s particular style and specific way to tell the story has made the film is worthy of  96 minutes of your time.  I think that even if the less known actors played in it, the movie would still have become a hit and so highly appreciated thanks to director’s job Peter Webber & his team.

Writing

Concerning the plot of the film, I’d like to mention that fact that it is psychologically tense due to its writing and ,of course, brilliant actors’ performance. Absence of long and bored dialogs also pleased me as I had possibilities to enjoy actors’ playing. The writing is breathtaking and makes you feel you a part of the film, transferring you to absolutely different epoch. There is the type of movies which tend to be seen when I am doing 100 hundred other things at the same time. Undoubtedly, this film is out of this group. Not anyone like this writing, but it doesn’t mean that something wrong with it. The writing gives you wonderful possibilities to learn more about so mystical and beautiful world of art/

Editing

The film is considered to be a classical drama with some element of biography, thus the computer-generated graphics with numerous explosions, inconceivable shootings and pursuits are not supposed to be used. In fact, I like it because this circumstance makes the film worth watching as it attracts your attention due to real people and their talent to perform and tell the story of their characters. “Girl with a pearl earring” is the example of the film with breath-taking episode made only thanks for the brilliant performing skills of the actors. The quality of the editing is out of the question because almost every episode, whether it is about pursuits or just conversation makes you think and come to your own conclusion.

Costume design

I think that costume design perfectly conveys the atmosphere of that time, thus showing us fashion of that epoch. The beauty and elegance is found not only on the paintings, but the way how the women from the upper class behave and dress. All dresses are gorgeous, and I ,as a girl and fashion-lover, was pleased to see such a wide range of women’s attire which vary from luxurious evening dresses to grim gown worn by the representatives of the lower levels of society.

My impression

The film has made concentrate all my attention to it and even when subtitles appeared, I couldn’t force myself to turn the film off and spent next 5 minutes thinking about all I had seen for forming my personal opinion. While watching I was waiting for something between Griet and Vermeer although I don’t what exactly for. I am a person who is far from the world of art but the film has made me to become interested in Vermeer’s creative work. All in all, I may recommend this film for all people who like drama, biographical and simply good films because such a king of movies shows us the world in all its diversity.