FW Murnau was a fantastic and influential director/film maker, with interesting themes and full of stunning and unlike anything seen before for the time imagery. Evident in 'Faust', 'The Last Laugh', 'Nosferatu', 'City Girl' and especially 'Sunrise'. When it comes to silent film, he, Fritz Lang and Georges Melies were particularly important in its development, DW Griffith also but his output wasn't as consistent, and even lesser films are worth a look for curiosity sake.
'The Burning Soil' is definitely worth seeing, if more for curiosity to see more of Murnau's films (that are available) than anything else. It isn't Murnau's worst, it is better than 'The Haunted Castle' for instance, but 'The Burning Soil' is to me a lesser effort of his and it is better seeing the films mentioned in the first paragraph. There is a sense of Murnau having not yet found his comfort zone, but it is watchable and in many places pretty good. Its good things even being great.
Especially good about 'The Burning Soil' is the way it looks. Especially in the very atmospheric and often exquisite, by his early period standards, cinematography. The sets show ambition and skill. Murnau directs with an assured hand generally. Also really liked the hauntingly dark atmosphere and melancholic edge, when it comes to atmosphere, 'The Burning Soil' is a triumph.
While there aren't any performances that are iconic as such, most of the acting is actually fine and a lot more subtle than that in 'The Haunted Castle'. Would go as far as calling Lye De Patti and affecting Stella Arbenina excellent.
Did feel that there was an exception when it came to the acting, for my tastes Vladimir Gajidarov came over as too theatrical and like he was over-compensating. Werner Krauss is severely underused but does what he can with what he has. Really didn't like how Johannes was written, very one-dimensional and with few redeeming qualities which made it hard to understand what the other characters saw in him.
Moreover, 'The Burning Soil' is very flawed in story. Which came over as too melodramatic and over-stretched from being too thin and pace wise some of it really plods. Murnau's direction had moments where it seemed like he wasn't in complete control of the material, and the music is a pretty ill match.
In conclusion, interesting film but not one of the Murnau essentials. 6/10.
