DbcultAccessing Vault...
Cult Review
Senior Film Conservator
If you like silent films that don’t feel like a history lesson, you should definitely give this a watch. It is perfect for anyone who likes a good underdog story with some 1920s flair.
But honestly? If you can't stand people over-acting with their eyebrows, you will probably hate it. It is very much of its time.
I sat down with The Burning Heart (or Das brennende Herz) last night. I didn't expect to stay awake through the whole thing, but I did.
Gustav Fröhlich is the lead here. You might know him from Metropolis, where he spent most of the movie looking shocked.
In this one, he gets to be a bit more... human. He plays Georg, a composer who is basically a starving artist.
He lives in this cramped little room that looks like it smells like old paper and cold coffee. I’ve lived in apartments like that. Relatable.
There is this one scene early on where he’s trying to write music and the neighbors are making too much noise. He looks so frustrated you can almost feel his headache.
Then there is the girl, Dorothee. She works at a post office. Mady Christians plays her with this very sweet energy that never feels annoying.
The way they meet is a bit cliché, but it works because they both look so nervous. It’s not like modern movies where everyone is super smooth.
I noticed this weird thing with the lighting in the post office scene. There is a glare on the glass that almost hides Mady's face for a second.
It’s a mistake, probably. But it makes the scene feel more alive, like I’m actually standing there in 1929 waiting for a stamp.
The movie is mostly about Georg trying to get his operetta performed. He gets involved with a famous singer, and that’s where things get messy.
This singer, played by Lena Malena, is... a lot. She wears these outfits that look incredibly heavy. 👗
One of her hats is so big I honestly wondered how she kept her neck straight. It’s like a architectural project on her head.
There is a lot of drama about whether Georg is selling out. It reminded me a bit of the vibe in Kean, but less theatrical.
The pacing is actually pretty good. Sometimes these old movies feel like they are stuck in mud, but this one moves.
Except for the party scene. The party scene goes on forever.
People are dancing and drinking, and the camera just lingers on these random extras. One guy in the background is eating a piece of cake like it’s the most important thing in the world.
I couldn't stop watching the cake guy. He was really committed to that cake. 🍰
The movie does that thing where it tries to be very deep about art. Georg has these long stares into the distance while holding his sheet music.
You can almost hear the movie saying, "Look! He is a GENIUS!" It’s a bit much.
But then there are these small, quiet moments that really hit. Like when Dorothee is just waiting by a bridge.
The cinematography is surprisingly crisp for something this old. It’s not as experimental as some other German films from that year, but it’s clean.
I did find myself comparing it to The Telephone Girl. Both have that working-class girl romance thing going on.
However, The Burning Heart feels a bit more serious. Maybe too serious.
There’s a subplot with an older man that I didn't really follow. I think he was supposed to be a mentor, but he just sort of showed up and vanished.
Also, the makeup on some of the men is wild. They have so much powder on their faces they look like ghosts. 👻
Gustav Fröhlich somehow avoids looking like a ghost. He just looks like a guy who needs a nap and a sandwich.
The ending is... well, it’s a silent movie ending. Everything happens at once.
There is a lot of running and a lot of shouting through title cards. The music in the version I saw was really pounding during the finale.
It made my cat jump off the sofa. 🐈
One thing that really stuck with me was a shot of a piano. The keys are dusty, and you can see the fingerprints on the wood.
It’s those tiny details that make you realize real people made this. It wasn't just a factory product.
It’s definitely better than Oh, Teacher!, which I found kind of annoying. The Burning Heart has actual stakes.
I liked how the movie handled the idea of "fame." It shows that it’s mostly just people in suits deciding what is good.
That hasn't changed much in a hundred years, has it?
The film doesn't try to be a masterpiece. It just tries to tell a story about two people who are lost in a big city.
I think that is why it still works. Even if the acting is a bit stiff and the plot is predictable.
It’s got that heart. And it’s burning. Or something.
Anyway, if you find a good copy of it, it’s a nice way to spend an evening. Just ignore the giant hats if you can.
It's not as grand as some other stuff from the Weimar era. But it’s sincere. And sincerity is hard to find sometimes.
Give it a shot if you're in the mood for something dusty but sweet.
IMDb —
1928
Community
Log in to comment.
