Signs of life
I was craving for a nice film for me to immerse my thoughts and feelings into the plot. I discovered the German Film Festival 2010, and started ploughing through the film selection.
Not many people would appreciate such unconventional films. But nothing beats going to the theater, and sitting among like-minded people who share the same passion and time-space in appreciating a film in the theater, for 87 mins. It was like entering into another world, another time period. I totally enjoy the whole process of my brain translating complex thoughts, integrating what I knew from my life experience, and what I discover in the film. The elements of the film are crafted so beautifully to allow an engaging experience for the audience. It is amazing how work of the arts are able to convey the messages that people as far back as 1960s (or even B.C) have for the masses.
Signs of Life / Lebenszeichen
directed by Werner Herzog
I would just like to write down my thoughts, on details of the film. If you ever watch it, feel free to comment here.
- Boredom, can drive one crazy. Is that why humans seek to find something to do in life. Be it work, or studying or just having something to occupy your mind with?
- The trap for the cockroaches: I remember he said something like “I want to destroy them, because they look so disgusting.” The systemic way of killing, of deciding to kill. Isn;t that the reason many (mass)murderers adopt had for doing what they did? Who are we to decide the death of another being?
- Love the contrasting feel of watching the beautiful fireworks in the sky and the impending doom of Stroszek turning crazy.
- The girl whom they met while they were patrolling. Humans need other humans to survive. No? Else we would lose our linguistics ability. But then again. How important is that?
- I have no idea what was happening at the windmills scene.
- I love the sudden silences in the film, and how the pianist tries to show Chopin’s TB coughs, through the playing of the piano.
I believe my secondary school teacher had a great influence on me when she first introduced the works of Akira Kurosawa to us during class. It stimulated my mind to think, and I fell in love with similar works. How nicely such directors have put the complexities of life, through well-crafted plot, actors, sceneries and music.
We are used to the coloured cinematography, the blasting sound effects, the 3-d effects. But I find the plot of the classic films, really deep and intriguing.
