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

Content: 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?

Countries:

Germany,

Japan,

United Kingdom

Genres:

Drama

Runtime:

104 minutes

Year:

1995

Directors:

Stephen Quay

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Production companies:

Koninck Studios,

Image Forum,

Pandora Film,

Hot Property Films,

Film4 Productions

Actors:

Lisa Benjamenta

Jakob

Herr Benjamenta

Kraus

Pepino

Crews:

Director

Director

Makeup Artist

Makeup Artist

Co-Director