Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life

Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life

1995
1h 45m
7.7

7.7/10

47 votes • View on IMDb
Overview

Jakob arrives at the Institute Benjamenta (run by brother and sister Johannes and Lisa Benjamenta) to learn to become a servant. With seven other men, he studies under Lisa: absurd lessons of movement, drawing circles, and servility. He asks for a better room. No other students arrive and none leave for employment. Johannes is unhappy, imperious, and detached from the school's operation. Lisa is beautiful, at first tightly controlled, then on the verge of breakdown. There's a whiff of incest. Jakob is drawn to Lisa, and perhaps she to him. As winter sets in, she becomes catatonic. Things get worse; Johannes notes that all this has happened since Jakob came. Is there any cause and effect?

Status: Released

Language: EN

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Production Information

Production Companies
Koninck Studios Image Forum Pandora Film Hot Property Films Film4 Productions
Production Countries
Germany Japan United Kingdom
Spoken Languages
Afrikaans English German Spanish

Quick Facts

Release Date August 1, 1995
Status Released
Language EN
IMDb ID tt0113429
Website Visit Site

Cast

Alice Krige
Alice Krige

Lisa Benjamenta

Mark Rylance
Mark Rylance

Jakob

Gottfried John
Gottfried John

Herr Benjamenta

Daniel Smith
Daniel Smith

Kraus

Joseph Alessi
Joseph Alessi

Pepino

Jonathan Stone
Jonathan Stone

Hebling

César Saratxu
César Saratxu

Inigo

Peter Lovstrom
Peter Lovstrom

Jorgenson

Uri Roodner
Uri Roodner

Schilinski

Peter Whitfield
Peter Whitfield

Key Crew

Stephen Quay
Director
Timothy Quay
Director
Karl Baumgartner
Producer
Janine Marmot
Producer
Katsue Tomiyama
Producer
Keith Griffiths
Producer
Timothy Quay
Writer
Alan Passes
Writer