Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life 28 years old

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?

Credits

Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life Cast

Name Character
Gottfried John He was 52, 72 years old when he died as Herr Benjamenta
Mark Rylance He was 35, now 64 years old as Jakob
Alice Krige She was 41, now 69 years old as Lisa Benjamenta

Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life Crew

Name Department
Nicholas D. Knowland as Director of Photography. Camera
Stephen Quay as Director. He was 48 (now 76) years old Directing
Stephen Quay as Writer. He was 48 (now 76) years old Writing
Timothy Quay as Director. He was 48 (now 76) years old Directing
Timothy Quay as Writer. He was 48 (now 76) years old Writing
Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life poster
Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life (28 years)

  • Release day: Tuesday, August 01, 1995
  • Runtime: 104 minutes