SIGNS OF LIFE
- Actors -
- Sound -
Written, directed & produced by Werner Herzog
What's the matter?
It's so hot!
Bring him over there.
He's almost dead.
Four weeks after the parachutist Stroszek
was transferred to Crete, -
- he was wounded and had to be withdrawn from battle.
He and another soldier had been shot at
by partisans in the west, -
- near the town of Chania.
It occurred during a lull in the fighting, -
- in a village held by the Germans.
After convalescence,
Stroszek was sent to Cos in the Dodekanes.
On that island, there had been no fighting.
It was peaceful there.
A helpful officer sought to find a post -
- where Stroszek could spend the rest of the war
- without seeing any more action.
The occupation of the island was peaceful, -
- and only required a garrison of 60.
Stroszek was separated from the main garrison -
- and stationed in the old fortress.
His Greek wife, Nora, and two other soldiers -
- lived together with him there.
A previous guard informed them about their duties.
The only entrance, which could be reached by a bridge, -
- had to be kept locked at night.
Parts of the town had been destroyed several times by earthquakes.
As a result, old relics were often found under the ruins.
The Venetians began to use relics
to fill in the walls of the fortress.
After the walls were finished, -
- this was no longer possible.
There was an ammunition depot in the main courtyard -
- which was abandoned by the Greeks and had to be guarded -
- even though the Germans couldn't use it in their own weapons.
Guarding this was their only real task.
The living-quarters were located
in a newer building in the fortress.
There, the still incomplete museum
and the house of the restorer -
- had been requisitioned by the army.
The surroundings had a strange effect on Stroszek, -
- but he could find no explanation for this.
However, the others adapted themselves quickly to the place.
Stroszek had tried his hand at various jobs without success.
At one time, he had been a salesman.
But he had always wanted to emigrate to Canada or Australia.
Then he thought of going to Chile, -
- since he knew a family there.
Nora nursed him in the hospital.
Stroszek had been granted special permission to marry her.
What a shame that the people had to leave all their belongings behind.
The household crockery, their little pictures.
How touching it all is.
And now we are making ourselves comfortable here.
Do you understand me?
If this war goes on much longer, -
- we'll spend a long time here.
If the war lasts very long, -
- I might have a baby here.
The words are hard to read because they run into each other.
It's beautiful.
Becker had often missed school because of illness.
Still, he passed his exams with the highest marks.
When war came, stronger men were found unfit for service.
He passed his physical, but soon fell ill after he was drafted.
Meinhard was formerly a bar-keeper, -
- until one of his customers was killed in a brawl.
He then became a crane-operator.
It paid better anyway.
Everything's full of oil here.
Here everything's full of oil.
Salad in oil, fish in oil, meat, -
- machine-gun in oil.
What a shitty country!
Empty, no ammunition.
Are we supposed to shoot with grease?
Okay, I'll get it.
I couldn't fix a decent meal today.
Salt and other things are missing.
We have wine instead.
No thanks, not for me.
It tastes like turpentine.
Dammit!
This place is full of roaches.
They're not harmful.
They are the most repulsive things on earth.
They don't even bite.
It's not that.
They snap and pop all night long, just like this.
Just like that all night.
Becker, listen, I've got it.
The trap has to be placed against the wall, -
- since the roaches always keep running along the walls.
It works like this. Look!
The roach runs up this board or ramp -
- until it arrives at this trap, -
- which moves at the slightest touch.
Then it falls into the funnel, -
- either this way or that way.
It should be baited, but with what?
What do you think they eat, sugar?
One could try it.
Stroszek volunteered from the beginning for sentry duty at night.
The lights in town were never put out at night.
He loved to sit facing the town -
- in order to show the world that he was still functional.
Everyplace else had been bombed: Only this place was spared.
Stroszek thought that he could detect a kind of anticipation in the town -
- which somehow attracted him and seemed to offer him a challenge.
Unbelievable!
There really are roaches in here!
There are even two of them!
I know I've got some insecticide somewhere.
This is the right seasoning.
That's what they get -
- for being so repulsive.
Do we have turpentine or something?
The brushes are getting sticky; we can throw them away soon.
Maybe hot water would work.
Are you crazy?
- Gasoline.
- Gas would do the job.
I'll pick some up when I go in town.
I can mail the letters too.
Those damned idiots, -
- loading me down with a whole can.
And in this heat.
Dammit!
That's what I say about it.
Regulations!
To hell with them.
You took long enough.
I'm almost finished.
What do you mean, long?
You just can't reason with those idiots from supply.
I tell them I want a little gas.
They say they haven't got any.
So I had to take a whole can.
That's regulations for you.
Hurry up.
I can't take this fiddling around much longer.
We've only been here two weeks, -
- and in two days we won't have any more work.
In 2 days we can twiddle our thumbs.
You are always napping anyway.
Don't be angry.
All work doesn't have to go so fast.
Here are peaches.
Not peashes, but peaches.
Please take seat.
I'll make my round on the bike.
I'm not the best guard.
There's hardly any goat's milk.
So we have to drink black coffee.
- Aha. - Aha, what?
I've always said -
- that goat's milk is shit; it tastes like he-goat.
Besides, she doesn't give any milk.
Maybe we should sell her.
Who would buy her?
She's as old as Methuselah.
The founders probably brought her.
A pity.
I imagined everything to be so nice.
A goat that gives milk, hens that lay eggs.
I imagined a pretty little garden.
But this place is too dry for that.
Well, Becker, what's up?
Has the goat given any milk?
Found any eggs?
No, but there's a strange fellow outside the gate.
He wants to come in.
Do we know him, or what?
No idea; he says he's a king.
A king?
He must have a screw loose.
He's well-mannered.
Let's have a look at him.
Although the isolation of the fortress weighed on them, -
- the appearance of a stranger -
- was felt as a violation of a domain which had to be defended.
Excuse the disturbance.
I think I'd better leave.
I didn't realize that soldiers were here.
I hope that I didn't disturb you.
Would you like to have some coffee?
No, please don't bother.
I had intended to ask this gentleman whether I could spend the night here.
I'm a stranger in this country.
There would be room enough.
No, this is military territory.
Actually, we have no objections.
Excuse my curiosity, but where do you come from?
I'm not sure, but I think I was born in Portugal.
I'm a gypsy, you know, and am probably from Portugal.
I was there as a small child.
You say that you're a king?
Does this thing work?
That's nice.
Where did you get it?
I've had it for a long time.
Tell us some more.
This is a rare occasion.
I really am a king.
I became separated from my tribe as a child.
Since then I've been searching for them.
I've been practically everywhere -
in Germany for a long time, -
- in Poland, England, and Spain.
I was in Rumania too.
I'm not ashamed of my poverty; I can live of it.
Sometimes I do card-tricks.
It is quite difficult for us gypsies.
What a strange person.
I mean the gypsy.
Do you think he was lying?
Probably.
I didn't believe him.
He's like a paper flower compared to this one.
Can you make anything out of that?
It's difficult for the words run together.
Something's missing here.
This word is "demos."
What does "demos" mean?
People.
- "Kyna," the dog...
Pardon me, I used the wrong case.
I have the feeling that life's rather unbalanced here.
Our duty here is as simple as one can imagine.
But keeping watch all night -
And one doesn't sleep long mornings.
It's really too short.
Why do you always try to get us to hurry?
We have plenty of time so we can take things easy.
Look!
A super egg from a super hen.
Could you give me the chalk for a minute to try something?
Know how to hypnotize a hen?
You press its head to the ground and draw a straight line from the bill.
We used to watch my grandfather do that.
One could also draw a circle.
Then the hen would run in a circle until it became exhausted.
Ever seen a caterpillar procession?
There are thousands of caterpillars creeping through the woods.
If you change the direction of the first one so it follows the last, -
- then they run in a circle until they are exhausted.
That would be a new method to kill insects.
Come here my dear...
What a stupid expression hens have.
It could hypnotize one.
Hen, who is hypnotizing whom here?
Watch now!
Ready; set; go!
Isn't that our king?
Ah, you're still here!
This is a friendly place here.
I'd like to stay for a while.
Have you found any of your clan yet?
You see, I've thought it over.
It could be that your clan is also looking for you, -
- and since you are looking for them, -
- you might be going in circles -
- and might never meet.
I don't run in circles; others do.
Our people always changes directions.
That's crazy.
I have a card trick to show you.
Is that a normal pack of cards?
Yes, it's legitimate.
All nines.
There must be a trick to it.
You must have a second pack up your sleeve.
Oh, that's a fine collection.
Here is something for you.
That's a souvenir, a little wooden owl.
You can buy one in any shop.
Look.
The eyes and ears are moving.
Maybe hydro-pressure has something to do with the movements.
The tail moves too.
Wait, it can be pulled out.
Something is moving inside - a fly.
The poor things.
There's another one.
Look how it crawls.
It's half dead.
It's terrible to do such a thing.
He's gone.
People here tell a story about a submarine -
- that surfaced here a few days ago.
It happened towards evening.
Some of the crew came up on deck to get some fresh air.
It was just sunset -
- and they were so impressed by the setting sun -
- that they didn't notice the enemy planes approaching.
Well, some did notice them, -
- and they were able to escape through the hatch.
They closed the hatch and submerged.
Three remained on deck and were drowned.
No, I'm not uneasy.
What's bothering you then?
What are you thinking about?
Take off your shoes.
Come here quickly, Meinhard!
Where is Stroszek?
He's in the house with Nora.
I have copies of the texts and even translations of them.
Stroszek, come here for a minute.
This is Achmed.
He says he's a Turk,
and as a Turk would normally pray 5 times a day.
But he only prays 3 times a day now -
- because the children scoff at him.
He has a printed copy of the inscription.
About our stone too?
About this one too;
I can read it to you, if you like.
Don't mind if it is only fragmentary.
Much of it is omitted.
"...have shown reverence to the gods, -
- have offered thanks to the gods, also the inhabitants of Cos..."
The text begins right in the middle.
It continues like this:
"...for the days are sure; the merchants sigh no more, -
- and the ports join in the rejoicing:
- For the seas are safe, the pirates destroyed.
All the robbers and their chief have been hanged, -
- even his dog has been hanged."
I can't make much of that.
You've got the wrong idea.
The ancient Greeks weren't like that.
During the Olympic games, they put stones between their knuckles -
- and covered them with leather straps.
They smashed their noses to pulp.
How beautiful it is when the worst of the heat is gone.
Where is Becker?
He's looking for new inscriptions.
Stop that nonsense.
There aren't any fish there.
You just don't know!
At full moon the whole sea is full of them.
They're only an inch or so long; but there are shoals of them.
The whole world is full of vermin.
What a mood you're in now.
What's wrong?
Is it my fault again?
Is it because of that cock?
It wasn't my fault, it was the children.
Do you know what kangaroos look like on Sunday?
I can magnetize a knife.
Watch, ladies and gentlemen.
The greatest show on earth...
The magnetic current has to flow through the arm into the knife.
It should be a straight wall, a smooth one.
There, now fold your arms.
The one who holds out longest is the winner.
On certain days Stroszek became confused and apathetic.
Now and then he undertook something with haste,
only to give it up again.
Nora acted prudently; but he began -
- to withdraw from her and the others.
Are you a tough one.
But only because you're light.
It's no wonder.
Now I'm only against myself.
One time Stroszek stretched a rope and tried tight-rope walking.
Meinhard ran for Nora to stop him.
But he was already on the rope by the time she arrived.
But she retained her composure, and he didn't fall.
What on earth are you doing?
Lighting a cigarette.
Are you mad? We'll all explode!
Oh, I see.
Give me the ones that are finished.
I said the finished ones.
All of them.
Now fill them with some powder.
More wool.
I didn't find any sawdust, but it should work.
What a way to cut that.
Like this you see.
That's how it should be done.
Will that help?
I'm sure that it'll work like a rocket exploding.
No, not in any case.
I'll show you.
If I fill the rocket with powder and then wool -
- it won't explode all at once.
It will go gradually, understand?
Before we proceed we ought to try one out.
How many do you have?
About 8.
Wait to set them off.
I'll get Nora.
It was Stroszek's idea to make the fireworks -
- out of the powder taken from the shells in the depot.
But the others had to do the work -
- for Stroszek had again lapsed into passivity.
Thank God that we have something to keep us busy again.
Now we can try one out.
Give me one of those.
Where are you going to set it off?
Over this shaft here.
I just hold it like this, light it, and it will work just fine.
That will blow your hand to bits.
No problem at all.
Wouldn't it be better to attach it to a piece of wood?
You're cowards!
Out of the way there.
I won't take any responsibility for this.
During the night, partisans had secretly laid out a crown -
- of light stones on the mountain.
It could be seen from a distance.
It didn't signify immediate danger, -
- but it did distinguish friend and foe.
Now that I can talk, what shall I say?
Come on in.
I won't disturb you.
Well, then -
Where are you stationed?
Here in the town.
But there is nothing to do in this place.
I have no official duties.
I can practice all day long.
You're really lucky, aren't you?
But sometimes I have to carry heavy objects,
and that ruins my hands.
Then I have to start all over again until my fingers loosen up again.
I'm actually running after my fingers.
I don't understand much about music, but you do play well.
That was Chopin.
You may think that the music is not fitting for this place.
It's different -
- malicious.
Chopin himself was malicious; he was unpredictable.
The only thing one could count on -
- was him coughing blood.
Don't you hear it in the music?
What's the matter?
Nothing, nothing at all.
Come on and tell me about it.
Is it anything special?
No, nothing special.
Then tell me what it is.
Well...
no, I do feel at home in the fortress, -
- and we get on well enough, -
- but I feel closed in somehow, the walls -
- Yes, I see what you mean.
You know that we brought you here -
- especially to give you a chance to recuperate.
Would you like to be sent on patrol now and then?
That would be nice.
Look, I'll send you to the southeast ridge tomorrow.
That's not dangerous.
But we have to show up there again, anyway.
It won't be too much for his knee.
I'll show you which route to take on the map.
First to the ridge, then the plateau.
You can be back by the afternoon.
Would you like to drink some water?
Wife, get some water for them!
Drink as much as you like.
You're dripping with sweat.
Don't you want to rest?
We don't have anything to eat.
Sorry, there's no bread.
You may have some more water, though.
The little one can hardly talk;
her mother is out with the sheep, -
and I'm gone most of the night.
Now and then she goes into town to visit her aunt Maria.
There she learns to talk a little.
It's beautiful here; there's water and fresh air.
There are no children here for her to talk to.
She can hardly talk at all.
Won't you say your song for them?
Go and say it.
Say it?
Say it from the beginning.
High on the mountain, lambs are grazing, -
- grazing there in loneliness.
One of them is lost.
Run, shepherds, run!
For over the mountains are circling...
- "vultures."
Drink that. It's good in the heat.
You know that I can't stand this thin stuff.
The medical officer wants to examine us today at five o'clock.
What?
Our next examination wasn't scheduled for two weeks.
Don't ask me why.
They do as they please with us.
Did you know that they are thinking of sending you home?
Why me?
Because of yesterday on the mountain.
So, you squealed on me!
Admit that you squealed on me, you swine!
Sit down, Stroszek, and go on eating.
Don't touch me.
It's better like this.
He and Nora saw the captain.
Nora, out of the way!
Get away, get out of here!
I don't see anything.
The shooting must be coming from the houses.
Stroszek has gone mad.
He shot at us.
It was just like the last time.
He had another fit.
Did you disarm him?
It was impossible; he had a gun.
It's not partisans.
One of our men on the fortress has gone berserk.
Stand by.
No, we don't need any road blocks.
Alright, send a platoon over here.
We may even have to move the HQ.
The entrance is exposed.
Who would ever have imagined this?
Send out some sentries; but don't alarm him.
I think his wife can lure him out in an hour or so.
Away, go away.
Come down from here.
I promise nothing will happen to you.
I don't follow orders anymore.
I've taken up the cause of man.
One has to keep something, -
- plants.
Their names: Wheat, barley, poppies.
Come down immediately, Stroszek.
That's an official order.
Go away you swine!
I'm going to blow up the whole works.
That was a mistake.
We should have taken stricter measures.
Now he's worse and doesn't expose himself at all.
We can't get snipers close enough -
- because he might see them and blow up the ammo.
What do you think doctor:
Is there a chance he might return to normal?
It's difficult to say.
What you want is a prognosis, -
- but with the information I have,
I can't even make a diagnosis.
We don't know the extent of his injury.
We don't have the hospital report.
And we know nothing about his background and circumstances -
- which led to his present state.
Still, we can reckon that he might come back to normal soon.
Just like yesterday, after his fit.
But I wouldn't count on a rapid remission.
I would suggest that we listen to what Stroszek has to say, -
- and how he behaves and acts.
Then we might be able to understand what is really the matter with him.
How should we act towards him?
With extreme caution, in any case.
One must bear in mind that a person in his state -
- is capable of almost anything, -
- even of executing complex actions.
If you provoke him, he might very well blow up the depot -
- And from the technical standpoint -
- does he have the technical capability?
Yes. I'm afraid he does.
If he is ready, it could go up now.
It only takes a few grenades.
What could be the force of the blast?
I'm not through with my calculations.
There are 5 or 6 tons of TNT, -
- if all of the hydro-mines detonate.
The other ammo is not so dangerous.
But that is enough to endanger whole sections of the town.
The damage would be so extensive -
- as to endanger the surrounding houses from falling debris.
Then we have to evacuate the other buildings.
It's what I anticipated.
Mr. Vassiliou, we have summoned you as a civilian representative.
I hope you understand this measure.
Do you understand me?
Yes, of course.
It's difficult to move people.
There's no place to put them.
The German's take up too much space.
He asks if anything can be done to help.
There's not much to eat, -
- and the boats can't be unloaded since they can't leave the harbor.
The ships can't leave the harbor anymore?
There's not much we can do now.
At least not before dusk.
If he remains quiet, we can wait for one more night.
He'll return to normal soon, maybe tomorrow.
He has to sleep or at least relax his attention.
We can discuss the evacuation separately.
The people in question will probably have to leave their goods behind, -
- in order to facilitate it.
Stroszek repeatedly threatened to blow the ammo -
- as soon as anyone came close.
He said he would blow up the whole place, -
- and make the earth shake.
Then people would see what was at the bottom of everything.
He wanted to make this revelation.
After this, the evacuation measures were accelerated.
Don't be sad.
If you are sad, we are too.
I haven't seen my kids for 10 years.
I work every day, and it is not easy.
That's life for you.
Much happens in the course of life.
Come to us when you are down.
We can sit and talk.
Stroszek didn't expose himself and held the fortress against everyone.
He was almost invulnerable.
He challenged friend and foe to battle, -
- but no one accepted his challenge.
He declared war on everyone in a furious protest.
He even rebelled against the orbit of the sun at dawn.
He screamed that one could only encounter light with light.
Did everything go alright?
There weren't any incidents at all.
Such an action is always unpopular.
What is Stroszek doing now?
Take the rest of the guns and files along too.
He's been restless.
Maybe he fears an attack.
He's still threatening to blow the place up.
Look at this rag here.
Exactly like this here, a rag...
What is that?
He failed to set the sun on fire, -
- just as the town at which he aimed his rockets remained unscathed.
He only managed to kill a donkey the day before.
Now he had to be content with a scorched chair.
Since no one accepted his challenge,
Stroszek began to insult the town.
A town of immaculate virginity, -
- just waiting for someone to bombard it.
That's what every town waits for.
It was her fault that things turned out unsatisfactory.
We won't shoot at him.
The danger of him setting fire to the ammo would be too great.
The best chance to catch him is while he's setting off the rockets.
He said that he was going to set off some more soon.
Yes, he still has many of the...
how do you say...?
You mean rockets?
Fireworks?
Yes, rockets.
He surely has a lot left, because we made many of them.
If he does set off some more -
- we could certainly overpower him, -
- for he sets off the rockets near the battlement.
And that's far-removed from the ammo.
He'll be so busy with the rockets -
- that my men can scale the wall at various points simultaneously, -
- particularly at dark.
Take up your positions at 6 o'clock when you are given the sign.
But wait to act at the moment -
- when the first rocket goes up.
There'll be more fireworks today.
Men, the most important thing -
- is to scale the wall quickly, -
- and at all three points.
You will receive equipment for it, -
- ropes, ladders, hooks, and teargas.
Stroszek cried that they could do nothing to him, no one could, -
- for he had now found his calling.
At 10 years of age, he was already catching trout with his bare hands -
- when the other boys were still wetting their pants.
During the night when Stroszek again started another firework display, -
- he was overpowered by his own men.
He didn't make it to the depot, for he was already surrounded.
In his rebellion he had undertaken something titanic -
- for the enemy was far superior.
Thus he had failed as miserably as all others of his kind.