Details

Starring Colin Firth and BAFTA Award Winner Scarlett Johansson, the romantic drama Girl with a Pearl Earring paints a stunning portrait on DVD and video on 31st May 2004 from Pathé Distribution Ltd. Nominated for an incredible 8 BAFTA Awards and 3 Academy Awards®, the film is inspired by the real-life painting of the same name and adapted from the critically acclaimed novel by Tracy Chevalier.

Set in mid 17th Century Delft in Holland, Peter Webber re-paints Vermeer in his striking directorial debut Girl with a Pearl Earring, a coming-of-age drama about the imagined relationship between Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer (Firth, Bridget Jones's Diary) and a quietly beautiful peasant girl Griet (Johansson, Lost in Translation).

In order to try and save her family from destitution, Griet works as a maid for the Vermeer family which is presided over by Vermeer's haughty wife Catharina (Essie Davis, The Matrix Reloaded) and her mother Maria (Judy Parfitt, Wilde). Assigned to clean Vermeer's studio she manages to steal precious moments to study the artist's work and her insight peaks the interest of the painter. After catching the eye of Vermeer's sleazy patron Van Ruijven (Tom Wilkinson, In the Bedroom) he commissions a painting of her and Griet becomes her master's muse as a strong attraction grows between them. This mutual desire hinders her courtship with a local apprentice butcher Pieter (Cillian Murphy, 28 Days Later) and earns the jealousy of Vermeer's wife and his malicious 10 year old daughter Cornelia (Alakina Mann, The Others).

One of the most engrossing and beautifully crafted films of recent years, Girl with a Pearl Earring on DVD also includes a Director's Commentary, Writer's Commentary, a Making Of Featurette, Deleted Scenes, Anatomy of a Scene, UK Theatrical Trailer and lots more.

Almost every frame of the film appears like a re-creation of the soft light and colour that Vermeer achieved in his work. Filled with simmering sexual tension, this is the most unique piece of British film-making this year.

Special Features

  • Director's Commentary
  • Writer's Commentary
  • Making Of Featurette
  • Deleted Scenes (with Director's Commentary)
  • Anatomy of a Scene
  • UK Theatrical Trailer