Girl with the Pearl Earring Movie Overview
The Girl with the Pearl Earring is a 2003 drama film directed by Peter Webber, based on Tracy Chevalier's novel of the same name. The movie stars Scarlett Johansson as Griet, a young servant in the household of painter Johannes Vermeer, played by Colin Firth. It was produced by a consortium including Wild Bunch, Pathé, and the UK Film Council, and distributed by Lionsgate in the United States and Pathé in Europe. The film adapts the fictionalized account of the creation of Vermeer's iconic painting Girl with a Pearl Earring, with a runtime of 100 minutes and a PG-13 rating.
The screenplay was written by Olivia Hetreed, and the cinematography was handled by Eduardo Serra, who used lighting techniques inspired by Vermeer's style to recreate the 17th-century Delft setting. The production design was led by Ben Van Os and sets were built at Shepperton Studios in the UK. The film's score was composed by Alexandre Desplat. The Girl with the Pearl Earring movie received generally favorable reviews, with a 64% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on critic reviews, and it grossed approximately $31.4 million worldwide against a reported production budget of $10 million.
Cast and Characters in Girl with the Pearl Earring
Scarlett Johansson portrays Griet, a timid yet observant servant who becomes increasingly involved in Vermeer's household and artistic process. Colin Firth plays the wealthy and meticulous painter Johannes Vermeer, whose patronage shapes Griet's role in the household. Tom Wilkinson stars as Pieter van Ruijven, the patron who commissions Vermeer's work, while Cillian Murphy appears as Pieter, the butcher's son. Supporting roles include Judy Parfitt as Maria Thins, Vermeer's mother-in-law, and Joanna Scanlan as Tanneke, the household maid.
The casting process for the lead role involved a search for an actress who could convey quiet intensity and emotional restraint. Johansson was relatively new to film at the time, having previously appeared in Lost in Translation. The cast also includes Essie Davis as Cornelia, Vermeer's eldest daughter, and Anna Popplewell as Maertge. The performances were supported by a wardrobe and makeup design that reflected 17th-century Dutch domestic life, with costumes sourced and designed to match period accuracy as closely as possible within the film's fictionalized narrative.
Production, Release, and Reception of the Girl with the Pearl Earring Movie
Principal photography for the Girl with the Pearl Earring movie took place in the Czech Republic and the UK, with locations including the Kroměříž Castle and Barrandov Studios standing in for Delft interiors. The production timeline spanned late 2001 through 2002, and the film premiered at the Telluride Film Festival before its theatrical release in late 2003. It was released in the United Kingdom on January 16, 2004, and in the United States on February 20, 2004, with a wide release across more than 1,000 screens in North America.
The Girl with the Pearl Earring movie received several award nominations, including three BAFTA nominations for Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Art Direction, and Best Costume Design. It also earned a nomination for the European Film Award for Best Actress for Scarlett Johansson. The film's visual style and atmospheric recreation of Vermeer's world were frequently cited by critics as highlights. For more background on the historical Vermeer painting that inspired the film, see the relevant entry on the Rijksmuseum website here