Who says a picture tells a thousand words? Johannes Vermeer's master piece 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' proves this to be a gigantic understatement.
A 17th century portrait compelled Tracy Chevalier to write hundreds of thousands of words speculating over who this 'girl' might have been in her bestselling novel.
This absorbing feature length adaptation of that novel uses the odd word or two as well. So whoever's in charge of the relevant department, change the phrase! Make it a million or something.
Chevalier's writing is testimony to how deeply one can delve into a good piece of art. She wonders what lives the artist and subject lead in 17th century Holland, their social standings, the people close to them and ultimately the relationship between them, which inspired one of the best loved and most talked about portraits in existence.
Director Peter Webber (Men Only, The Stretford Wives) attempts to bring this wonderful story to the screen, casting the effortlessly beautiful Scarlett Johansson (Lost in Translation, The Horse Whisperer) perfectly as the timid, often petrified earringed girl. The auditions probably consisted of a series of pretty young women imitating the enigmatic expression in the painting. The lovely Scarlett walks in, poses and every other hopeful is immediately sent home.
Colin Firth (Love Actually, Bridget Jones' Diary, Shakespeare in Love) is brilliant as the troubled artist. As with his character's paintings, his thoughts are subtly displayed with outstanding clarity. Though their relationship is intriguing, the chemistry between them is never breathtaking. The photography is ...erm creamy. It's stunning, but creamy.
Unfortunately unlike the original portrait and the Novel, a masterpiece this is not. It's an interesting and extremely watchable film with a handful of inspired performances and well worth 1hr 45 minutes of your life. But if you've read the book and loved it, prepare to be a little disappointed.
Oh and it is just earrings. No necklaces, so don't get the wrong idea. Plus Scarlett keeps all her clothes on, loads of them.
Girl with a Pearl Earring is showing at the Broadway until 29th January.
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