Search - Alexandre Desplat :: The Girl With a Pearl Earring

A sumptuous film score

Erica Anderson | Minneapolis, MN | 05/15/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Earlier this winter I saw "Girl With a Pearl Earring" in the movie theater. I loved the concept of taking a famous painting and turning it into a fictional story like author Tracy Chevalier did with Johanne's painting of a girl with a pearl earring. The film was a stunning piece of work. Colin Firth as Vermeer and Scarlett Johansson as Griet put in excellent performances as did the supporting cast. What really made the film for me was the haunting film score. The music really shaped the mood of the film. I finally found a copy of the soundtrack for "Girl With a Pearl Earring" today. I knew right away that I had to buy it. Listening to the music sent chills down my spine. Alexandre Desplat did an amazing job as composure as well as conductor for the film score. It brought back images of the film. I agree with the other reviewer, Alexandre's film score should have received an Oscar nod. It is truly one of the best film scores I have ever heard in my 30 years of life (well, almost 30 years in a few months). The music isn't bombastic and loud like a lot of film scores tends to be. It is very subtle and breathtaking to this music lover's ears. Anyone who has seen and loved the movie, get this soundtrack. It is a nice reminder of one of the best art house films ever made."

Subtle but amazing in every way

Scott Roy | Rochester, MI United States | 07/26/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is truly a beautiful soundtrack. Like the film, it is probably not very well known by many people, but a gem nonetheless. It has several themes that are played with variation throughout the soundtrack. Overall, the sound is very consistent; delicate strings and piano, slightly melancholy and mysterious at times. It is a little repetitive, but you won't care because the melodies are so exquisitely crafted. This is the kind of cd that you can just sit and listen to and let your mind wander, or read to and not have to worry about one track being calm and quiet and the next being loud and blaring. For such a short movie, you have a good amount of playing time to feast your ears on."

Soundtrack is a work of art itself

J. Johnson | 04/11/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love this soundtrack! It stands alone as beautiful, haunting, alluring, and innocent--just as Griet herself was in the film. Desplat perfectly captured the spirit of the story, enhanced and deepened a plot that was less than stellar.



Scarlett Johanssen's acting is superb, as well as Essie Davis and Colin Firth. The story, though, was a bit tired--pretty housemaid/jealous wife/do-nothing husband. Its portrayal of Vermeer and his wife was a disservice to the real people, even though it is a fictionalized account.



The two best tracks on this album are 'Griet's Theme' and 'Colours in the Clouds'. While I'm not keen on seeing the film again, this soundtrack is a treasure. It's a real work of art, second only to Vermeer's work."