The Miniaturist

Hello.

Johannes Brandt?

Are we to have a menagerie?

Er, his name is Peebo.

He's a parakeet.

I'm Nella.

Short for Petronella.

Are you the housekeeper?

Where is Johannes?

My brother is not at home.

Your brother? So you are...

Marin Brandt.

Otto!

For your feet.

Otto is my brother's manservant.

This is Cornelia, she is the maid.

They will look after you. This is Petronella.

She is the Seigneur's new wife.

I expect you'll want to see your bedroom.

To the kitchen.

Oh, he lives with, um...

Come on!

This used to be my room.

But it had the better view, so we gave it to you.

Oh, no, please, you must keep it.

No, you misunderstand.

The view is of you.

Amsterdammers must see that Johannes Brandt has a new wife.

The Oortmans' grand ancestral seat, is it warm and dry?

It's not that grand...

.. and it's damp.

We couldn't afford to maintain the dykes.

Pedigree counts for nothing.

Nothing.

The dykes must be maintained or the waters will rise.

We sent the second-best barge. I hope you weren't offended.

Johannes was using the other one.

No, of course not. Did he know I was coming?

You must be hungry.

I'll have Cornelia bring you something to eat.

Oh, do you have any marzipan?

We do not keep sugar in the house.

The luxury of it sickens the soul.

Cornelia will bring you a herring.

Be still, girl! He'll be here any moment!

Now you listen to me, my girl. You need to marry him.

You need to make him want to marry you, otherwise we are ruined.

For myself, I don't care.

- But for your brother and sister... - He's coming! He's coming!

And this is Nella...

Petronella, I mean.

Your daughter is very beautiful, Madame Oortman.

- How bad are the debts, exactly? - The debts?

I know I was not the only one you wrote to.

You would not have done so had you not been desperate.

Did I mention she plays the lute?

Praise God, we are saved. He has asked for your hand.

Do you think you could love him?

- Does it make a difference? - No. But I want you to be happy.

I think perhaps I could.

I hear they eat chocolate wrapped in gold in Amsterdam!

Come, come.

She's here.

It would have looked better if you'd been here when she arrived.

Perhaps you should go and see her.

No, let her sleep.

- You have to understand... - I understand.

I have to work. Rzecki, come.

That's right, although, Hamburg's a good choice

And Marseilles...

Good morning!

Good morning.

Thank you for my dress.

There are more.

It's a little large.

Marin, don't you think?

Never mind, we'll have it altered. Come and eat something.

We are eating frugally today to demonstrate humility.

Privation as a thrill, you mean. Otto, get me some beer.

And Nella and Marin too.

It gives me indigestion.

Go on, be defiant!

Bravery is the rarest commodity in the city these days.

- How was the voyage? - Not much to tell.

- The Lombardy silk, who won the import rights? - I forget.

- Who? - Henry Field of London.

The English, always the English. Think of the commission, Johannes.

I know what I'm doing, Marin. This house is evidence enough, no?

Have you spoken to Frans Meermans yet about his wife's sugar?

So that's what this is about.

It's been sitting in the warehouse for a month.

You still haven't told them what you plan to do with it.

My sister thinks that sugar rots the soul, Nella,

but of all the things I might sell, she pushes this.

- What do you make of that? - Sell the sugar!

Don't tell me what to do!

- Where are you going? - To check on your damned sugar!

I don't believe you.

Hello!

Did Johannes collect these on his travels?

The world in a set of plates.

Isn't he rich enough to have someone travel for him?

The Seigneur's spirit belongs on the seas.

He says the ocean is something the land can never be.

No patch ever stays the same.

What are you doing?

Only talking.

He's working. Can't you see?

Leave that.

There are scrolls you need to deliver.

Marin, I think Peebo misses me.

He needs fresh air and light.

His place is down here.

- But Johannes' dog... - Johannes is the Seigneur.

He may do as he pleases.

Is he away a great deal?

Nobody forced you to marry him.

Johannes...

I just wondered,

will I see you...

.. later?

Tonight...

Tonight, I cannot.

Soon, then?

Nella...

.. good night, sweet girl.

I have now been in Amsterdam for over a week.

The city is a glory, like nothing I have ever experienced.

My new home is beautiful, and I want for no material thing.

"He is like a man which built a house

"and laid the foundations upon a rock."

Johannes's sister Marin is very godly,

and takes great interest in our diet.

".. built his house upon the earth."

As for Johannes,

he treats me with great kindness,

but his work takes him away a great deal.

I look forward to spending more time with him.

I hope the dykes are holding.

Please send my love to little...

Be quiet!

My God, Johannes, what have you done?

- What? You told me to find a... - A what?

A wedding gift. For you.

A man at the docks had some cabinets left over.

I had it improved with tortoiseshell and pewter inlays.

But what is it?

A house. Your house.

This house.

- How much? - The frame was 2,000.

Curtains and furnishings brought it to three.

3,000 guilders? A family could live on that for years.

If you had money to spare, you should have given it to the Church.

Enough of your piety.

Well, she doesn't like it. Neither do I.

That's a bitch's taste for you.

What about you?

I hoped you might like it.

What am I to do with it, exactly?

You'll think of something.

What are you doing?

Nothing. Your door was open.

I thought you'd prefer it closed.

Smit's List.

It's a register of all the crafts people and businesses in the city.

What for?

To decorate your house.

My brother will pay for everything.

I thought you said it was an extravagance.

The Devil finds work for idle hands.

Miniaturist.

Trained with the great Bruges clockmaker Lucas Windelbreke.

At the sign of the sun.

"Dear Sir, I have a house of nine rooms, on a miniature scale,

"that is to be displayed in a cabinet.

"I venture three requests to you and await your response.

"Item -- one lute with strings.

"Item -- one cage, suitable for a parakeet.

"Item -- one box of marzipan."

How do I get to the Kalverstraat?

What do you want there?

Nothing. To leave a message for someone.

Who?

A craftsman, that's all.

I'll come with you, Madame.

There's no need. I have a good sense of direction.

Why didn't Otto come?

- It's not easy for him. - What do you mean?

He was on a Portuguese slave ship. 16 years old.

His parents were dead.

The Seigneur saw him and bought him.

You're saying he's a slave.

No. But he owes the Seigneur his life.

Oh, Marzipan! Do you think we can get some?

- Come on, Madame. - Cornflower! Where've you been?

Well, what you waiting for? Come in!

Please, Madame, have a look around.

The Meermans insisted the Seigneur distribute it.

They know he can get a better price abroad.

And Madame's all for it, even though she hates sugar.