GREAT CINEMA ADAPTATIONS: GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING

Peter Josyph via Zoom

Tracy Chevalier's 1999 novel about the Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer is one of the few depictions of a painter's life that is authentically about the artistic process and the very real compromises involved in surviving as an artist. Both the novel and Peter Webber's beautiful 2003 adaptation are centered around one of Vermeer's greatest works, "Girl With A Pearl Earring," painted in 1665. The film, starring Colin Firth as Vermeer and Scarlett Johansson as Greit, the maid who becomes both his sitter and the object of his affection, was nominated for 3 Oscars, 10 British Academy Awards, and 2 Golden Globes. Our first session will examine the themes and historical background of the novel, as well as the process of adaptation by screenwriter Olivia Hetreed and director Peter Webber. Our second session will further explore the central motifs of the novel and how they are realized on film.

 [A Zoom link will be sent to you prior to each session, typically on the day before your class and the morning of your class.  If you have any questions or need help getting online, feel free to call us at 516-480-5733 and we’ll get right back to you with assistance.]