Cinematically "The Empty Canvas" ("La Noia") (1963) based on the novel by Alberto Moravia, excels as film art where upon release was considered "boring." Today the film, if re-released, would become considered "a classic" and Damiano Damiani would be more well-known. He outdoes Antonioni for me with this film and its wonderful depiction of an empty world for an artist played by Horst Buchholz until a vacuous creature (played by Catherine Spaak), adds to its void. Catherine Spaak and Bette Davis (as his mother) are brilliant, Spaak not yet 20 years old. Damiani's cinematographer, Roberto Gerardi provides quite a picture and Damiani's film ultimately leaves one mesmerized and thinking for many days after.
Review of The Empty Canvas
