The imagined, intriguing and highly seductive story behind one of vermeer's greatest and most enigmatic paintings. Colin firth and scarlett jonansson star.   a girl takes up the job of maid in the household of the artist vermeer – but her presence provokes friction in the family and the jealousy of his wife when the servant catches the painter's eye. Peter webber's 17th century period drama adapted from the bestselling novel by tracy chevalier, starring scarlett johansson, colin firth, tom wilkinson, judy parfitt and cillian murphy running time 99 minutes region region 2 subtitles english release date 31 05 2004