Review of Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003) by Yunzhi O — 25 Dec 2013

[spoiler and bad puns alert] Those eyes, they communicate much more than words. Along with several metaphorical acts, the story constructs a believable intimacy between master and maid. The film may lack a satisfying climax, but that perhaps perfectly illustrates the tension between the taciturn characters.

What is fulfilling in this film is the eyeful of Vermeer-esque cinematography. The light and dark, the composition, the colors--a work of beauty. It's a slow and quiet film where some loves are secret and selfish because of circumstances of the time; I'm not sure about the depth of its implications, but it's certainly a painterly love story.