Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life ( 1995 )

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?

Top Cast

Alice Krige

Lisa Benjamenta

Mark Rylance

Jakob

Gottfried John

Herr Benjamenta

Daniel Smith

Kraus

Joseph Alessi

Pepino

Jonathan Stone

Hebling

César Saratxu

Inigo

Peter Lovstrom

Jorgenson

Uri Roodner

Schilinski

Peter Whitfield