Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream That One Calls Human Life

– Jakob arrives at the Institute Benjamenta (run by brother and sister Johannes and Lisa Benjamenta) t..

Type:
Movie
Rating:
7.30 / 10
Duration:
One Hour and 45 Minutes
Release Year:
1995
Original Name:
Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life
Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream That One Calls Human Life (1995) - Also known as Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life

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?

Release Date:

23 Aug 1996

Language:

English, German

Director:

Stephen Quay, Timothy Quay

Writer:

Alan Passes, Stephen Quay, Timothy Quay, Robert Walser (novel)

Main Actors:

Mark Rylance, Alice Krige, Gottfried John, Daniel Smith

Plot:

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?

Awards:

4 wins & 3 nominations.

Ratings:
Internet Movie Database:
7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes:
100%