"A superior British costume drama", Peter Webber's Girl With A Pearl Earring generated a lot of buzz for actress Scarlett Johansson, although she'd later get the Oscar nod for her role in Lost In Translation. Described by producer Andy Paterson as a "domestic thriller", this is actually a slow-burning romantic drama that eschews the usual bodice-ripping clichés. Its stunning cinematography is beautifully served by the digital format, but there's a lot more to this DVD than surface polish.

Art Stinks

The Art Of Filmmaking explores some of the challenges faced by cast and crew in accurately depicting the period, but does so with a great sense of fun. Colin Firth reveals how he loved getting his hands dirty with "beetle s***" and "bull urine" in the scenes where his character (the artist Vermeer) and Johansson make paint from unlikely materials. Meanwhile, Cillian Murphy explains the difficulty of moving his facial muscles in sub-zero temperatures, and director Peter Webber tells how something as simple as a jammed window-shutter can leave you unstuck.

Delving deeper into all aspects of production is the Sundance Channel Anatomy Of A Scene featurette. These single scene dissections always complement any disc, here focusing on the banquet scene in which all the major characters come together for the first time. Everything from the continuity of cutlery, to lighting and editing is put under scrutiny to demonstrate exactly how Webber achieved the tension that lies beneath this seemingly jolly get-together.

The Full Palette

In his audio commentary with producer Andy Paterson, Webber points out the cuts he needed to make to pare down the film from its original three-and-a-half hour running time. The addition of eight deleted scenes, for which he also provides commentary, fills in some of the gaps - the best of these draws out the dynamic between Vermeer and Griet (Johansson) in loving detail.

In an alternative track, author Tracy Chevalier and screenwriter Olivia Hetreed compare Webber's final cut with early attempts to adapt the novel. Hetreed likens the process to "those kid's games where you have to remove sticks without spoiling the shape". The women obviously enjoy each other's company, making for a lively - as well as enlightening - commentary.

Together this selection of extras paints a very detailed picture of the creative process, while a playful approach keeps things bright and breezy. All that's missing is a little more in the way of historical context; otherwise Girl With A Pearl Earring is a sparkling gem on DVD.

Peter Webber discusses making films in the UK.