Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #682 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-05-31
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Anamorphic, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 103 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
You wouldn't think a movie could look like a Vermeer painting, but Girl with a Pearl Earring is filmed with an amazing range of luminous glows that evoke the Dutch artist's masterworks. Of course, it helps that much of the movie focuses on Scarlett Johansson (Lost in Translation, Ghost World), whose creamy skin and full lips have a luminosity of their own. Johansson plays Griet, a maid in the household of Johannes Vermeer (Colin Firth), who finds herself in a web of jealousy, artistic inspiration, and social machinations. Though the pace is slow, Girl with a Pearl Earring genuinely conveys some sense of an artist's process, as well as offering many chaste yet sensual moments between Firth and Johansson. Also featuring Essie Davis as Vermeer's bitter wife and Tom Wilkinson (In the Bedroom) as a wealthy patron with eyes for Griet. --Bret Fetzer

DVD Description
In order to support her family, seventeen year old Griet becomes a maid in the house of Johannes Vermeer and soon attracts the master painter’s attention. Although worlds apart in upbringing and social standing, Vermeer recognizes her intuitive understanding of his work and slowly draws her into his mysterious world of art and passion.

Whilst she falls increasingly under Vermeer’s spell, his volatile family quickly grows jealous of her. Maria, his shrewd mother-in-law, struggles to maintain the family’s lifestyle, but seeing that Griet inspires Vermeer, takes the decision to let their relationship develop. Van Ruijven, also sensing the intimacy between master and maid, commissions Vermeer to paint Griet’s portrait. The result will be one of the greatest paintings ever created … but at what cost?

Special Features

• Director’s commentary
  
• Writer’s commentary
  
• Making of featurette
  
• Deleted scenes
  
• Anatomy of a scene
  
• UK theatrical trailer

DVD Technical Information:

• Region Code: 2
  
• Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen/2.35 Wide Screen
  
• Subtitles: English for the hearing impaired

Customer Reviews

Can I have that 103 minutes back please?
I now know a little bit about mixing paint, other than that this was a complete waste of time, very glad I saw it on telly and didn't waste money on it, would rather watch the paint dry (after mixing it). Only gave this 1 star because you have to give it something

Art in life; life in art
I almost feel yet another review would be redundant, but want to add my comments because this film appeals in an age that almost deifies trash! I bought the DVD after seeing it several times and will undoubtedly watch it several times more. Sheer beauty! It probably won't appeal to a wide viewership because of the slow pace and minimal dialogue but it fills a gap in today's sadly under-populated world of quality viewing. Johanssen is the perfect Griet: strong character, an instinctive eye for what makes for good art -- probably inherited from her (now blind) ceramics artist father -- and an understated beauty. Firth is his usual self: sexy in an "almost-too-good-to-be-true" macho way. Supporting roles are admirably filled, especially that of the rich, vain, lecherous Van Ruiven (Tom Wilkinson, a rather underrated actor, in my book). Most of the encomiums I could add regarding this DVD have already been generously poured out by other reviewers. I can only say: If you are looking for an artistic production in every sense, you can't go wrong by buying this one.

Like a masterpiece in oils, this film builds layer by layer
GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING is based on the book by Tracey Chevalier. Many may be familiar with the painting of the same name by the Dutch artist, Vermeer. This dramatisation is an imagined examination of the infamous sitter for the portrait.

Griet (played by Scarlett Johansen) becomes a maid for the Dutch painter. One of her duties is to clean his studio, whilst he is not working. As the film progresses, you begin to relaise that this young lady is quite excedptional - she sees one of ghis paintings and seems utterly beguiled by it, appreciating it a deep level. She is also aware that merely cleaning the windows to the sturdio may have consequences for the lighting in the room, and so asks permission to do so from the mistress of the household first - although the question is met with incomprehension by Vermeer's wife, who sees his painting as merely a way of bringing money into the household.
Yet it is while Griet is cleaning his windows that the artist finally 'sees' her. Once he does, he becomes mildly obsessed with her. Noticing that she has an apptitude for the artistic world, they spend more time together. And although it is all very 'chaste', the sensuality of the film is created around their relationship making for moments dripping with sexual tension. Of course, it does not go unnoticed by his very jealous wife. . .

The beauty of this film is that, like a beautiful painting, the intensity is built up layer by layer. It also shows you that sensuality is more than full on physical contact - true chemistry is more than that; more subtle than that, and this film completely mirrors that idea of subtlety. While some view this film as slow, I thought it was beautifully paced and photographed, showing the colours of life, love and jealousy.