Signs of Life (1968 film)
Encyclopedia
Signs of Life is a 1968
feature film
written, directed, and produced by Werner Herzog
. It was his first feature film, and his first major commercial and critical success. The story is roughly based on the short story Der Tolle Invalide auf dem Fort Ratonneau, written by Achim von Arnim.
, three German soldiers are withdrawn from combat when one of them, Stroszek, is wounded. They are assigned to a small coastal community on the Greek island of Kos
while Stroszek recuperates. The men become increasingly stir crazy
in their uneventful new assignment. Stroszek eventually goes mad.
. Herzog's grandfather, Rudolf Herzog, lived and worked for several years as an archaeologist at this site, and published translations of the ancient Greek engravings which appear in the film. The old Turkish man who appears in the film with a written translation was the last surviving worker from Rudolf Herzog's archaeological project.
During several shots, Peter Brogle could only be filmed from the waist up after he had been injured in a tight-rope accident and spent several months in a walking cast. The man who appears as a pianist in one scene is keyboardist Florian Fricke
of Popol Vuh
, who composed and performed the music for many of Herzog's later films.
includes a scene with a hypnotized chicken, and the main character's name is given to Herzog's film Stroszek
. The Wild Blue Yonder
contains a shot of a valley of windmills.
, where it won the Silver Bear Extraordinary Prize of the Jury
.
1968 in film
The year 1968 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* October 30 - The film The Lion in Winter, starring Katharine Hepburn, debuts.* November 1 - The MPAA's film rating system is introduced.-Top grossing films :- Awards :...
feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
written, directed, and produced by Werner Herzog
Werner Herzog
Werner Herzog Stipetić , known as Werner Herzog, is a German film director, producer, screenwriter, actor, and opera director.He is often considered as one of the greatest figures of the New German Cinema, along with Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Margarethe von Trotta, Volker Schlöndorff, Werner...
. It was his first feature film, and his first major commercial and critical success. The story is roughly based on the short story Der Tolle Invalide auf dem Fort Ratonneau, written by Achim von Arnim.
Plot
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, three German soldiers are withdrawn from combat when one of them, Stroszek, is wounded. They are assigned to a small coastal community on the Greek island of Kos
Kos
Kos or Cos is a Greek island in the south Sporades group of the Dodecanese, next to the Gulf of Gökova/Cos. It measures by , and is from the coast of Bodrum, Turkey and the ancient region of Caria. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within the Kos peripheral unit, which is...
while Stroszek recuperates. The men become increasingly stir crazy
Stir crazy
Stir crazy may refer to:*Stir crazy , a mental condition experienced by prisoners*Stir Crazy , a 1980 comedy film*Stir Crazy , a US restaurant chain*Stir Crazy , a short-lived 1985 CBS sitcom...
in their uneventful new assignment. Stroszek eventually goes mad.
Cast
- Peter BroglePeter BroglePeter Brogle was a Swiss film actor. He appeared in 14 films between 1955 and 1987. He starred in the 1968 film Signs of Life, which won the Silver Bear Extraordinary Prize of the Jury at the 18th Berlin International Film Festival. In 1979, he won the Hans-Reinhart-Ring award.-External links:...
- Stroszek - Wolfgang Reichmann - Meinhard
- Athina Zacharopoulou - Nora
- Wolfgang von Ungern-Sternberg - Becker
- Wolfgang Stumpf - Captain
- Henry van LyckHenry van LyckHenry van Lyck is a German television actor.-Selected filmography:* Signs of Life * Derrick - Season 12, Episode 6: "Das tödliche Schweigen" * The Aggression...
- Lieutenant - Julio Pinheiro - Gypsy
- Florian FrickeFlorian FrickeFlorian Fricke was a German musician who started his professional career with electronic music using the Moog synthesizer within the Krautrock group Popol Vuh...
- Pianist - Heinz Usener - Doctor
- Achmed Hafiz - Greek resident
Production
The fortress which gives the film's main setting is a real 14th century fortress built by the Knights HospitallerKnights Hospitaller
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
. Herzog's grandfather, Rudolf Herzog, lived and worked for several years as an archaeologist at this site, and published translations of the ancient Greek engravings which appear in the film. The old Turkish man who appears in the film with a written translation was the last surviving worker from Rudolf Herzog's archaeological project.
During several shots, Peter Brogle could only be filmed from the waist up after he had been injured in a tight-rope accident and spent several months in a walking cast. The man who appears as a pianist in one scene is keyboardist Florian Fricke
Florian Fricke
Florian Fricke was a German musician who started his professional career with electronic music using the Moog synthesizer within the Krautrock group Popol Vuh...
of Popol Vuh
Popol Vuh (German band)
Popol Vuh was a German electronic avantgarde band, in the mainstream-media so called Krautrock, founded by pianist and keyboardist Florian Fricke in 1969 together with Holger Trülzsch and Frank Fiedler...
, who composed and performed the music for many of Herzog's later films.
Themes
Many of Herzog's later films reference elements of Signs of Life. The Enigma of Kaspar HauserThe Enigma of Kaspar Hauser
The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser is a 1974 West German drama film written and directed by Werner Herzog about the legend of Kaspar Hauser. Its original German title is Jeder für sich und Gott gegen alle, which means "Every man for himself and God against them all"...
includes a scene with a hypnotized chicken, and the main character's name is given to Herzog's film Stroszek
Stroszek
Stroszek is a 1977 film by German director Werner Herzog. It was written in four days specifically for Bruno S. and was shot in Berlin, two towns in Wisconsin, and in North Carolina. Most of the lead roles are played by non-actors.-Plot:...
. The Wild Blue Yonder
The Wild Blue Yonder
The Wild Blue Yonder is a science fiction film by the German director Werner Herzog, released in 2005. It has been presented at the 62nd Venice Film Festival, where it was awarded the FIPRESCI Prize. It went on to screen in competition at the Mar del Plata Film Festival and the Sitges Film...
contains a shot of a valley of windmills.
Critical responses
The film was entered into the 18th Berlin International Film Festival18th Berlin International Film Festival
The 18th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from June 21 to July 2, 1968.-Jury:* Luis García Berlanga * Peter Schamoni* Alex Viany* Georges de Beauregard* Alexander Walker* Domenico Meccoli* Carl-Eric Nordberg...
, where it won the Silver Bear Extraordinary Prize of the Jury
Jury Grand Prix
The Jury Grand Prix is a Silver Bear award given by the jury at the Berlin International Film Festival to one of the feature films in competition...
.