Unletterboxd

Discover

  • Popular
  • Top Rated

Genres

loading...

TMDB logo

This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Animation
  • Comedy
  • Crime
  • Documentary
  • Drama
  • Family
  • Fantasy
  • History
  • Horror
  • Music
  • Mystery
  • Romance
  • Science Fiction
  • TV Movie
  • Thriller
  • War
  • Western

Cast

Alice Krige

Alice Krige

Lisa Benjamenta

Mark Rylance

Mark Rylance

Jakob

Gottfried John

Gottfried John

Herr Benjamenta

Daniel Smith

Daniel Smith

Kraus

Joseph Alessi

Joseph Alessi

Pepino

Jonathan Stone

Jonathan Stone

Hebling

César Saratxu

César Saratxu

Inigo

Peter Lovstrom

Peter Lovstrom

Jorgenson

Uri Roodner

Uri Roodner

Schilinski

Peter Whitfield

Peter Whitfield

Crew

Stephen Quay

Stephen Quay

Director

Timothy Quay

Timothy Quay

Director

Lech Jankowski

Lech Jankowski

Original Music Composer

Weiser Quay

Weiser Quay

Co-Director

Caroline Clements

Caroline Clements

Makeup Artist

Suzie Zamit

Suzie Zamit

Makeup Artist

Larry Sider

Larry Sider

Editor

Irene Lamb

Irene Lamb

Casting

Jennifer Kernke

Jennifer Kernke

Production Design

Alison Riva

Alison Riva

Art Direction

Nicky Gillibrand

Nicky Gillibrand

Costume Design

Gina Carter

Gina Carter

Production Manager

Dave Crownshaw

Dave Crownshaw

Special Effects

Karl Baumgartner

Karl Baumgartner

Producer

Keith Griffiths

Keith Griffiths

Producer

Janine Marmot

Janine Marmot

Producer

Katsue Tomiyama

Katsue Tomiyama

Producer

Timothy Quay

Timothy Quay

Writer

Stephen Quay

Stephen Quay

Writer

Alan Passes

Alan Passes

Writer

Nicholas D. Knowland

Nicholas D. Knowland

Director of Photography

Jack Stew

Jack Stew

Foley Artist

Movie poster

Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life

19957.8 / 10104 min
Drama

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?