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The story takes place during the Nazi occupation of Greece, so some people inevitably think it's an historical drama … 'Signs of Life' concerns itself not with a particular era or military conflict, but with the idea of putting instruments of war into the hands of individuals. - Werner Herzog

German soldier Stroszek is sent to the Greek island of Kos after he is wounded in combat during the Second World War. Joined by two other soldiers, he is there to recover from his injuries but instead slowly succumbs to a creeping madness induced by the group's seclusion.

The feature film debut of Werner Herzog, Signs of Life contains many of the themes that would continue to appear throughout his oeuvre: the curdling effect of power, the relationship between mankind and the natural world, and the deranging influence of isolation. Shot in monochrome on a low budget, the film is a confident statement of intent from a young director with a clear vision and a formidable gift for filmmaking.