This is simply a luscious movie, quite stunning in its attention to detail, atmosphere and historic ambience.
It's a work of fiction based around the life of the Dutch master-painter Johannes Vermeer, played here by Colin Firth. It's a sort of biographical fiction, as it incorporates admittedly hazy details of the life of Vermeer, with a fiction based around the supposed relationship between the painter and the girl, Griet, who was used as a model for one of the Delft painter's most acclaimed works, 'Girl with a Pearl Earring'.
Griet (Scarlett Johansson) is a servant-girl who comes to work for the Vermeer family. This leisurely movie explores how an erotically-charged (though never carnal) relationship is slowly forged between servant and painter, as she progresses to become the artist's assistant and, finally, model.
The atmosphere of Delft in the early 17th Century is brilliantly evoked -- and the home of Vermeer, with his waspish, constantly-nagging and jealous wife (Essie Davis), surly daughter Cornelia (Alikina Mann), is painted by director Peter Webber with delicate precision.
Also convincing is Tom Wilkinson as Vermeer's lecherous patron Van Ruijven, who plans to plunder Griet of her most precious possession....
Sharing honours with director Peter Webber must be cinematographer Eduardo Serra and the art designer Christina Schaffer. Together, they have produced a dazzling interpretation of the setting's place and time. This is one movie in which atmosphere is as important, perhaps even more important, than plot -- and that is not to the detriment of a very satisfying film
Interestingly, this movie almost never happened. It was originally slated to have been directed by Mike Newell, and to have starred Kate Hudson and Ralph Fiennes. Kate Hudson pulled out, starting a pyramid of events which resulted in the totally different casting -- and most probably, totally different movie.
It was a serendipitious happening, for the casting of Scarlett Johansson was a master-stroke. She not only reveals herself to be a fine actress, but her sheer physical appearance and beauty makes her an almost-perfect match for the girl in famous painting itself.
There is a 5.1 Surround Dolby track which is mainly frontal in its effect, with the full surround being mainly used for incidental crowd/family noises. Sound is clear and rich and does justice to a very effective musical score.
There's also a stereo commmentary track, and a 5.1 Surround Descriptive Audio track, in which a voice-over narrator describes key happenings for visually-impaired viewers. I've not encountered this feature before, and hope I need never use it!