Girl With A Pearl Earring (12) (From Warrington Guardian)

Girl With A Pearl Earring (12)

IAN KELLY

IT was Lost in Translation which brought a 'best actress' BAFTA for rising star Scarlett Johansson this year, but she was also nominated for her fine performance in this intelligent and beautifully-crafted film from director Peter Webber.

The story is set in 17th century Holland, and Johansson plays Griet, a 17-year-old girl from a poor family who lands a job as a maid in the household of morose master artist Johannes Vermeer (Colin Firth).

It is not long before Vermeer takes a shine to the young servant and allows her to help out in his studio, thus causing much jealousy and suspicion in the mind of his clingy wife Catharina (Essie Davis).

But the artist is not the only man beguiled by Griet's charms, as his pervy patron Van Ruijven (Tom Wilkinson, who seems to have a contract stipulating that he must, by law, be in every Brit flick ever made) is also leching after her.

Van Ruijven eventually commissions Vermeer to paint a portrait of Griet, but as she spends more and more time in the artist's studio, tensions within the household reach breaking point.

If you're looking for an all-guns-blazing action movie, this is certainly not for you, as the pace is slow and, to be frank, not a great deal happens.

However, if you're a somewhat more discerning viewer, chances are that you'll love this tale of complex, astutely observed human emotions, set in a world of oppressive moral codes and strict social strata.

The acting is superb (although Firth is hardly cast against type as Mr moody and miserable), while the direction and cinematography are top drawer, creating a film that's as visually stunning as the titular Vermeer masterpiece itself.