GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING
Scarlett Johansson Smolders
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering the identity of the eponymous Girl in Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer‘s famous Girl with a Pearl Earring, then this is the movie for you. Set in the 17th-century, Griet (Scarlett Johansson) goes to work as a maid for the painter Johannes Vermeer (Colin Firth) after her father goes blind. As Griet and Vermeer begin to develop a close friendship, they realize they must keep it a secret for fear of angering Vermeer’s jealous wife, Catharina (Essie Davis). But when the wealthy patron Van Ruijven (Tom Wilkinson) finds himself smitten with Griet, he commissions a portrait of her from Vermeer, forcing the two to spend long hours alone together. This film marked the feature film debut of director Peter Webber. Olivia Hetreed adapted the script from Tracy Chevalier’s 1999 book of the same name. The movie was nominated for a bevy of awards, including three Academy Award nominations. It also stars Peaky Blinders‘ Cillian Murphy. You can watch Girl with a Pearl Earring for free this week on PROVOKR.
