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Girl With a Pearl Earring

Play trailer Poster for Girl With a Pearl Earring PG-13 2004 1h 39m Biography Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
73% Tomatometer 177 Reviews 68% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
When her father goes blind, Griet (Scarlett Johansson) must go to work as a maid for painter Johannes Vermeer (Colin Firth). While cleaning the house, Griet strikes up an unlikely friendship with Vermeer, which both agree to keep secret for fear of provoking the painter's jealous wife, Catharina (Essie Davis). When wealthy patron Van Ruijven (Tom Wilkinson) begins to lust after Griet, and commissions a painting of her, Vermeer and Griet are obliged to spend long hours alone together.
Girl With a Pearl Earring

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Critics Consensus

Visually arresting, but the story could be told with a bit more energy.

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Critics Reviews

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Anthony Lane The New Yorker 05/10/2021
What keeps Webber's movie alive is the tenseness of the setup (will this girl stay in the artist's household, and, if so, will she become his lover or his muse?), and, above all, the presence of Johansson. Go to Full Review
Antonia Quirke London Evening Standard 12/14/2017
4/5
Little happens -- save for several family arguments and the artist worrying about money and the integrity of his ambition -- yet it is unforgettable, and, shot to look like a moving Vermeer painting, effortlessly profound. Go to Full Review
Nell Minow Common Sense Media 12/24/2010
3/5
Older teens and adults will enjoy. Book is better. Go to Full Review
Felicia Feaster Creative Loafing 01/29/2020
[A] satisfying, provocative film. Go to Full Review
Debbie Lynn Elias Behind The Lens 11/07/2019
A visually stunning masterpiece with the beauty and elegance of a single perfect pearl. Go to Full Review
Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com 05/09/2009
B+
The film is an intriguing speculative account of the creation of one of Vermeer's most famous and sensual paintings. Every shot in the film looks like it was taken right out of a painting from Delft, Holland circa 1665... Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Potter W Nov 16 If you love visual art as I do, and appreciate the genius of Vermeer and the talent of Colin Furth, you should love this movie. It is subtle, nuanced, and exquisitely filmed, with certain shots that look like a Vermeer painting. It conjures the atmosphere of Holland in the 17th century and the interior of a middle-class house of that era. The plot is simple, and entirely fictionalized (we have no idea who the girl was or exactly why he painted her), but compelling: Vermeer needs to paint to support his large and growing family but few appreciate his art (certainly not his wife), except Greit, the house maid. An unspoken bond forms, the wife’s jealousy emerges, yet Vermeer persists in painting the girl. She is drawn to him, but knows her place. Not one word of affection is spoken between her and the artist, yet the suppressed emotions infuse most of the film. The painting is completed, the wife explodes, and Griet must leave. All that remains is that exquisite painting, and a love of art, as life. See more VITALII H @freakynickison Oct 26 History lesson Sunday. 1665, Delft (Holland). Johannes Vermeer has just created one of the most famous paintings in the history. He found the perfect light, remembered about a piece of cloth in the back that may be useful, sneeked his wife's pearl earrings and pierced his maid's ears in order for her to wear them in the painting cause she was the model. One local man that was known for collecting art pieces saw something in young Griet and ordered her portrait. Of course when Johanneses wife found out she immediately fired Griet. But she was able to keep these insanely expensive earrings. If you wanna know how this painting came to life and you like movies where acting in on the top tier, creme de la crème, then you will enjoy it. Idon't usually watch this type of movies, but just because accidentally found it I decided to give it a try. I need to be in the certain mood for a historical drama. And I don't regret watching it. See more thiago s @Thiagostone Sep 25 Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom See more Daniel M Sep 25 It was a well made movie and I enjoyed the setting and the time period of the film, I just couldn’t get into the story too much and I had to force myself to finish watching it. See more Alec B 02/26/2024 It's all tawdry melodrama in the end but the cinematography is on another level here See more alex r 10/16/2022 Pale adaptation of the book See more Read all reviews
Girl With a Pearl Earring

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Girl With a Pearl Earring

Girl with a Pearl Earring: Official Clip - Artistic Affection Girl with a Pearl Earring: Official Clip - Artistic Affection 1:32 Girl with a Pearl Earring: Official Clip - Catharina Sees the Painting Girl with a Pearl Earring: Official Clip - Catharina Sees the Painting 2:19 Girl with a Pearl Earring: Official Clip - The Colors of the Clouds Girl with a Pearl Earring: Official Clip - The Colors of the Clouds 1:49 Girl with a Pearl Earring: Official Clip - Painting You at My Pleasure Girl with a Pearl Earring: Official Clip - Painting You at My Pleasure 2:10 Girl with a Pearl Earring: Official Clip - Girl With a Pearl Earring Girl with a Pearl Earring: Official Clip - Girl With a Pearl Earring 2:19 Girl with a Pearl Earring: Official Clip - Faithful to One Mistress Girl with a Pearl Earring: Official Clip - Faithful to One Mistress 1:31 Girl with a Pearl Earring: Official Clip - A Camera Obscura Girl with a Pearl Earring: Official Clip - A Camera Obscura 2:15 Girl with a Pearl Earring: Official Clip - Tools of the Trade Girl with a Pearl Earring: Official Clip - Tools of the Trade 1:59 Girl with a Pearl Earring: Official Clip - I Need to See Your Face Girl with a Pearl Earring: Official Clip - I Need to See Your Face 2:10 Girl with a Pearl Earring: Official Clip - Master and Maid Girl with a Pearl Earring: Official Clip - Master and Maid 2:14 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis When her father goes blind, Griet (Scarlett Johansson) must go to work as a maid for painter Johannes Vermeer (Colin Firth). While cleaning the house, Griet strikes up an unlikely friendship with Vermeer, which both agree to keep secret for fear of provoking the painter's jealous wife, Catharina (Essie Davis). When wealthy patron Van Ruijven (Tom Wilkinson) begins to lust after Griet, and commissions a painting of her, Vermeer and Griet are obliged to spend long hours alone together.
Director
Peter Webber
Producer
Andy Paterson, Anand Tucker
Screenwriter
Olivia Hetreed
Distributor
Lionsgate Films
Production Co
Delux Productions, UK Film Council, Archer Street Productions
Rating
PG-13 (Some Sexual Content)
Genre
Biography, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 9, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA)
$11.6M
Runtime
1h 39m
Sound Mix
Surround