The film of the book of the painting, got it?
Amidst the glut of remakes of bad tv shows, comes this film version of Tracy Chevalier’s fictionalised life of the model for Vermeer’s famous ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’ painting, painted in 1665. Although, having not read the book, nor been a art critic, I can review this film without the introduced bias of former knowledge.
The life of a peasant girl in 1660’s Holland seems tough. Not only would one have to put up with being a slave to richer people, one would also have to be on guard for the advances of the many eligible men one comes across! This young woman is confronted with the attentions of three (!) men almost as soon as she joins the household of the painter, Vermeer, as a maid. The interweaving passions, loyalties, relationships and jealousies form the basis of this film, and the cause for the final outcome.
The costumes seem authentic, and the settings and set design were believably grungy. Without much of what we take for granted, it seems amazing that anything of beauty could be created here. The market scenes were really good, although I wasn’t convinced by the pretty boy butcher’s assistant – his hair was just too well groomed to be acceptable.
The inevitable outcome leaves the plot lacking somewhat, however this is made up for by the delicate touch displayed in dealing with the relationship between Vermeer and his muse. Firth and Johansson play off each other very well indeed, and save this from being very dull and forgettable. I just wish the wife wasn’t so damned annoying!