Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life (1995)

  • 14A
  • 09/13/1995 (CA)
  • Drama
  • 1h 44m

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?

Stephen Quay

Director, Writer

Timothy Quay

Director, Writer

Alan Passes

Writer

Cast

Alice Krige's headshot

Alice Krige

Lisa Benjamenta
Mark Rylance's headshot

Mark Rylance

Jakob
Gottfried John's headshot

Gottfried John

Herr Benjamenta
Daniel Smith's headshot

Daniel Smith

Kraus
Joseph Alessi's headshot

Joseph Alessi

Pepino
Jonathan Stone's headshot

Jonathan Stone

Hebling
César Saratxu's headshot

César Saratxu

Inigo
Peter Lovstrom's headshot

Peter Lovstrom

Jorgenson

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