Release Date

01 Aug, 1995

Runtime

01:45: (HH:MM)

Synopsis

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?

Original Title

Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life

Photos

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Actors

Alice Krige

Mark Rylance

Gottfried John

Daniel Smith

Joseph Alessi

Jonathan Stone

César Saratxu

Peter Lovstrom

Uri Roodner

Peter Whitfield

Crew

Stephen Quay

Timothy Quay

Lech Jankowski

Weiser Quay

Caroline Clements

Suzie Zamit

Larry Sider

Irene Lamb

Jennifer Kernke

Alison Riva

Nicky Gillibrand

Gina Carter

Dave Crownshaw

Karl Baumgartner