When her father goes blind, Griet (Scarlett Johansson) must go to
work as a maid for painter Johannes Vermeer (Colin Firth). While
cleaning the house, Griet strikes up an unlikely friendship with
Vermeer, which both agree to keep secret for fear of provoking the
painter's jealous wife, Catharina (Es
sie Davis). When
wealthy patron Van Ruijven (Tom Wilkinson) begins to lust after Griet,
and commissions a painting of her, Vermeer and Griet are obliged to
spend long hours alone together.
