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| GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING (2003) | |
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Girl with a Pearl Earring is a brilliant cinematic depiction of Johannes Vermeer’s ambiguous painting with the same name.
The ambiguity is obvious when the story unfolds as there are so many missed moments where words where not exchanged, actions were not taken, and feelings not expressed.
These moments are the very essence of the film as they set the audience free in an artistic environment that encourages cerebral participation. Griet (Scarlett Johansson) is sent away from home to work for the Vermeer as a maid. The Vermeer can afford luxuries and maids through Johannes Vermeer's (Colin Firth), a Dutch painter in the mid-1600s, paintings that are usually ordered. Johannes lives with his wife and children under his mother-in-laws strict rule, which seems to suffocate Johannes artistically. However, Griet’s presence appears to cheer up Johannes as his artistic drought suddenly seems to have faced a monsoon of creativity. Johannes discovers that Griet is an untapped well of artistic talent as she begins to mix his colors with extraordinary detail for hue, tint, and shade. The paint mixing becomes an allegorical symbol how the two unite without truly expressing feelings for one another. A connection between Griet and Johannes is unthinkable as several factors meddle between them such as the mother-in-law's iron fist, Johannes wife’s vivid insecurity, and the daughter's envy. The director Peter Webber grabs the audience with the same subtle force that Vermeer’s paintings seize the viewer. Vermeer’s paintings trigger the audience's curiosity through the expressed uncertainty which seemingly hides some secrets that demand answers. These answers are left for the audience to ponder as the film is highly introspective, and is delivered with a painters gentle touch. |
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UK / Luxembourg |
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| 9/1/2004 | |
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The Internet Movie Database. |
