"Lebenszeichen" or "Signs of Life" is a West German 90-minute movie from the 1968, so this one will have its 50th anniversary soon. It was the first full feature film (after some short films) by writer and director Werner Herzog and he was in his mid-20s at this point. Of course, the awards reception was huge for such a young filmmaker and even if I did not like it that much, I am glad Herzog made it if it helped propel his career in any way. I am a great fan of Werner Herzog. This one here is in black-and-white and deals with a character names Stroszek. You certainly have heard of this one if you care about Herzog as he made another film later and that one was starring Bruno S., an actor who is mostly known for his work with Herzog today while late Swiss actor Peter Brogle, who plays the main role in here, is pretty much forgotten by now. And I am not too angry about it. He was not bad, but he also did not elevate the material particularly. In general, this film was way too bleak and sterile for my liking. I never really cared for the story, the characters or their fates. It's fine I guess as back then Herzog was still looking for his style and approach to filmmaking and it needs practice to get perfect. "Lebenszeichen" is a way Herzog acquired said practice and I am not mad at all that this was made, even if I give it a thumbs-down.

A wounded German paratrooper named Stroszek (Peter Brogle) is sent to the quiet island of Kos with his wife Nora (Athina Zacharopoulou),a Greek nurse, and two other soldiers recovering from minor wounds.

The fortress which gives the film's main setting is a real 14th-century fortress built by the Knights Hospitaller. 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.

I am not as crazy about Herzog as some people. Some of his movies I like, and I actually tend to prefer his documentaries. This film was alright and quite good for a first feature. I love the fact he took his father's work and translated it to a film. That is so cool to keep that connection. Somewhere I heard a rumor that this film influenced "The Shining". I don't see it... and I can't seem to be able to confirm it. How strange if true.

I first saw this film in 1969 in Bangalore (India) in a German film festival. The film was unheralded, being the first feature from an unknown director. However, the film made an everlasting impression on me, and I considered it among 2 or 3 of the best films I had seen till then. I kept track of Werner Herzog films ever since, and have been seeing them all I could lay my hands on. Even today, I'll put it as among the 10 best films I have ever seen, and it remains my favorite Herzog movie. The film is sheer poetry. It's a film about 3 characters'(2 soldiers and wife of one of them) boredom in an isolated Greek island, and how each one handles it. While one of the soldiers snaps up at the end, and tries to destroy everything in his impotent fury - managing only to kill a donkey ultimately - the second soldier keeps himself and first soldier's wife sane by just being raucously funny. I found the story, direction, camera-work and acting fascinating,and far from boring, as suggested by some reviews. I believe, Herzog has been influenced by India's Satyajit Ray in his style of presentation. He is one of the 3 most uncompromising film directors of the world in last 50 years, the other 2 being Ingmar Bergman and Robert Bresson, and his first feature is among his best.