Review №1

Girl with a Pearl Earring

Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Colin Firth, Tom Wilkinson, and Cillian Murphy

Director:  Peter Webber

Synopsis: The film represented a fictional story of creating the most famous Johannes Vermeer’s picture, in maid his maid was the sitter (The screenplay was adapted by screenwriter Olivia Hetreed based on the novel of the same name by Tracy Chevalier)

Review

The action of the film was happening in 17th century in Dutch Republic. The famous artist Johannes Vermeer, is an art-captured man, who saw the inspiration in ordinary things. His pictures are created under the different influence and two of them he drew with the help of his maid, Griet. The motion of her hands and head during cleaning the window inspired him to make a beautiful picture. But the most important picture of his life was also written with Griet’s help but, moreover, the young lady was the sitter.  

The 17th century claimed the special atmosphere and costumes and, in my opinion, people who were responsible for it made their job very well. Every house, every dress and every act told that the action took place in the Dutch republic of that time. Rich women wore beautiful dresses and made hairdos, while maids were in dim, grey clothes with cap under which it was impossible to see their hair. They slept in cellars and had no warm clothes for winter-time.

I should mention the Scarlett Johansson’s performance because I think she represented Griet in an expert manner. Her behavior with the master and mistress, her smiles to Pieter and her fear of Van Ruijven seemed to me realistic and I believed her. Colin Firth is a genius actor and, for sure, he coped with his work. He could show a seeking artist who spent more time with art then with his family. The scene when he was searching for the wife’s jewel demonstrated his agony and aggression which he hid during the film. Other actors were also great in their performance and made the film interesting and professional as well.

The film deeply impressed me and I am still under its influence. I mentioned that the characters spoke not much and this peculiar added something special to it. I need not words because there were enough only actions. I enjoyed every scene in the movie and they seemed me very touching and light. Johannes Vermeer’s paintings, the process of his work made me appreciate his art. I saw Vermeer’s passion, Griet’s interest, Mrs. Vermeer’s unhappiness and jealousy, and Pieter’s love. Actually, the film did not have an interesting plot or thrilling actions but I like it so much because of its calm and tenderness which the actor brought in it.