A German soldier, Stroszek, is sent to a Greek island in 1944 to guard an old fortress, accompanied by his wife and two other soldiers. With time on their hands, they find ways to occupy themselves, including painting, raising animals, and building rockets. However, Stroszek's boredom and isolation eventually lead to signs of insanity, and he becomes violent after hearing a pianist play Chopin.
Signs of Life
As they recover from their wounds, three soldiers find themselves trapped in a coastal fortress, where the crushing isolation and desolate surroundings gradually chip away at their fragile mental and emotional states.