Set in 17th-century Holland, GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING follows the life of Griet (Scarlett Johansson), a young woman who must work as a maid to help her family make ends meet. Seeking employment at the home of renowned painter Johannes Vermeer (Colin Firth), Griet finds most of the household, including Vermeer's ever-pregnant wife (Essie Davis) and stern mother-in-law (Judy Parfitt), to be difficult and even hostile. However, she does form a unique bond with Vermeer himself, but this connection threatens to cause grief for both Griet and Vermeer. Complicating matters even further is attention from both Vermeer's wealthy patron Van Ruijven (Tom Wilkinson) and the charming local butcher's son (Cillian Murphy).

Adapted from the book by Tracy Chevalier and helmed by first-time director Peter Webber, GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING creates a back story for Vermeer's famous painting of the same name. Johansson is excellent in her quiet, understated role, while Firth is suitably moody and enigmatic. However, the visuals are the true highlights of this remarkably photographed movie; Webber and, most notably, cinematographer Eduardo Serra establish a beautifully historic look and film every scene as if it were a series of gorgeous paintings in the style of that era. As a portrait of the life behind a portrait, GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING is an intriguing study of both art and desire.

DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Additional Release Material:
Anatomy of a Scene
Audio Commentary: Peter Webber - Director
Interactive Features:
Interactive Menus
Scene Access

Scarlett Johansson: Actress, THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL, THE BLACK DAHLIA (2006)
Colin Firth: British Actor
Tom Wilkinson: British Actor
Cillian Murphy: Actor, ON THE EDGE (2001)
Essie Davis: Actress/"The Custodian"
Judy Parfitt: British Actress
Alakina Mann: Actress, THE OTHERS (2001)

Peter Webber: TV Editor

Andrew Paterson: Producer
Anand Tucker: Documentary Filmmaker

Olivia Hetreed: Screenwriter, GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING (2003)

Alexandre Desplat: Composer

"...Stunning to watch. With compositions awash in the dark, burnished colors and striking plays of light and shadow that characterize Vermeer's work..."
"...[T]he care that has gone into making EARRING, a dexterous and absorbing visual re-creation of the lighting and the look that Vermeer achieved in his work, is a tribute to the director Peter Webber's own group of artisans."
"...[A] film of great beauty, and that is something worth appreciating."
"It's a measure of the mesmerizing power of GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING and the flawless performances of Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson that audiences feel as if they are spying on a moment of artistic inspiration when painter Vermeer creates the title work."
"...It gets you to see the world through new -- which is to say, old -- eyes..."