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Girl with a Pearl Earring
2003 101 min France, Luxembourg, United Kingdom PG-13 16+
★7.4
Drama, Romance
Director: Peter Webber
📖 Based on the novel
«Girl with a Pearl Earring»
byTracy Chevalier
Trailers
Description
This film, adapted from a work of fiction by author Tracy Chevalier, tells a story about the events surrounding the creation of the painting "Girl With A Pearl Earring" by 17th century Dutch master Johannes Vermeer. A young peasant maid working in the house of painter Johannes Vermeer becomes his talented assistant and the model for one of his most famous works.
Budget:
$10.5M
US Gross:
$11.67M
Worldwide:
$33.03M
Starring
Scarlett Johansson
Actor
Colin Firth
Actor
Tom Wilkinson
Actor
Awards
San Sebastián International Film Festival 2003
— Best Cinematography
European Film Awards 2004
— Best Cinematography
San Sebastián International Film Festival 2003
— C.I.C.A.E. Award
San Sebastián International Film Festival 2003
— Golden Shell
BAFTA 2004
— Best Production Design
BAFTA 2004
— Alexander Korda Award for Outstanding British Film
Academy Awards 2004
— Best Cinematography
Academy Awards 2004
— Best Production Design
Academy Awards 2004
— Best Costume Design
San Sebastián International Film Festival 2003
— Best Cinematography
BAFTA 2004
— Carl Foreman Award for Most Promising Newcomer
Goya Awards 2005
— Best European Film
Golden Globe 2004
— Best Actress (Drama)
European Film Awards 2004
— Best Cinematography
BAFTA 2004
— Best Supporting Actress
BAFTA 2004
— Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music
San Sebastián International Film Festival 2003
— C.I.C.A.E. Award
Golden Globe 2004
— Best Original Score
European Film Awards 2004
— Audience Award – Best Actor
BAFTA 2004
— Best Actress
BAFTA 2004
— Best Costume Design
BAFTA 2004
— Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Key opinion
Girl with a Pearl Earring is widely celebrated as a visually breathtaking and atmospheric period piece that functions more as an immersive painting than a traditional narrative. While most critics laud the subtle, restrained performances and technical artistry, some viewers find the deliberate, slow-burn pacing to be either hypnotic or tedious.
| Cinematography | Eduardo Serra's cinematography masterfully replicates the tonal composition, natural lighting, and color palette of 17th-century Dutch masters. | |
| Score | Alexandre Desplat’s evocative score effectively heightens the film's nostalgic and atmospheric emotional resonance. | |
| Acting | Scarlett Johansson and Colin Firth deliver understated, nuanced performances that rely on gaze and gesture rather than dialogue to convey their complex connection. | |
| Pacing | The film adopts a deliberate, slow-burn pace that captivates those who appreciate visual storytelling but leads others to feel disengaged or bored. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay’s focus on atmospheric immersion and the creation process succeeds for some as an artistic meditation, while others find the fictionalized, melodramatic plot elements derivative or uncompelling. |