Pearl in the Rough

What Girl with a Pearl Earring lacks in violent action sequences, it makes up for in its vivid visualization of city life in Delft, Holland and the intense emotions involved in art, sensuality, and obsession.

Based on Tracy Chevalier's novel of the same title, it tells the story of Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer (Colin Firth) and a peasant girl who models for him in private. Little is known of Vermeer's life, and his relatively few paintings were not discovered until two centuries after his death. The dearth of information on Vermeer allows for the hypothetical story of Vermeer and his peasant maid-turned-model, Griet.

The movie, directed by Peter Webber, reflects conditions in seventeenth century Holland where poverty was widespread and art and high culture depend largely on the whims of a few wealthy patrons.

The story begins when Griet (Scarlett Johansson), a young peasant girl, is forced to become Vermeer's family's maid in order to support her own family, which is on the brink of poverty. Griet's beauty immediately sparks interest from both Vermeer and his patron Van Ruijen, a truly detestable character who dabbles in rape and pedophilia throughout the film.

Johansson falls quite naturally into her role of silent pensiveness and wandering, qualities that she has exhibited in previous characters. She also masters the subtleties of sexual tension and unspoken flirtations. Such is the nature of Griet's relationship with Vermeer, as she quickly becomes the inspiration for his next painting. - which causes an intense jealousy on the part of Vermeer's insecure and perpetually pregnant wife.

Although Griet displays an interest in young Pieter, the local butcher's son who pursues her affection with witty remarks, this relationship more closely resembles indifference when held up to the restrained passion that she holds for Vermeer.

In fact, the only moment that Griet deviates from her thoughtful and passive nature is a scene in which she runs desperately through the dark streets of Delft. This mad dash, which at first seems to be the result of some terrible event, turns out to be caused by Griet's immediate need of a sexual outlet, which she cannot achieve with Vermeer and which Pieter, whom she finds beer in hand at the local brothel, does not deny to her.

Wary of his wife's jealousy, Vermeer is forced to paint Griet in secret. He develops an obsession with the peasant girl, which might superficially be a result of her beauty, but is really more deeply rooted in the understanding that Griet has for the depth of a painting and the synthesis of colors which make it up.

This is something that Vermeer's wife will never share with him, so it is an insulting discovery when she finds not only that Griet has been modeling for her husband, but that the peasant girl has borrowed her pearl earrings.

For those used to Colin Firth's recent succession of roles as the well-groomed English suitor, this portrayal of the tortured Vermeer quite convincing. It does help that his face is hidden in a wild mane of scraggly hair and the object of his desire is not Bridget Jones.

Griet's fate is left up to interpretation, but what is expressed in this film is the story of her sensual exploration and artistic understanding. The image of Vermeer's actual painting at the film's end evokes a new curiosity for the many tales that are masked behind it. The eyes of the young peasant girl are haunting, and they linger long after the credits have been cued.