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

Directors:

Stephen Quay
Timothy Quay

Writers:

Alan Passes (writer)
Stephen Quay (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

23 August 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Jakob arrives at the Institute Benjamenta (run by brother and sister Johannes and Lisa Benjamenta) to learn to become a servant...

Plot Keywords:

Servant | Surreal | Multiple Languages | Surrealism | Funeral

Awards:

4 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Mark Rylance	...	Jakob
Alice Krige	...	Lisa Benjamenta
Gottfried John	...	Herr Benjamenta
Daniel Smith	...	Kraus
Joseph Alessi	...	Pepino
Jonathan Stone	...	Hebling
César Saracho	...	Inigo (as Cesar Sarachu)
Peter Lovstrom	...	Jorgenson
Uri Roodner	...	Schilinski
Peter Whitfield	...	Null

Directed by
Stephen Quay
Timothy Quay

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Alan Passes		writer
Stephen Quay		writer
Timothy Quay		writer
Robert Walser		novel "Jakob von Gunten"

Produced by
Karl Baumgartner	....	producer
Keith Griffiths	....	producer
Janine Marmot	....	producer
Katsue Tomiyama	....	producer

Original Music by
Lech Jankowski

Cinematography by
Nicholas D. Knowland

Film Editing by
Larry Sider

Casting by
Irene Lamb

Production Design by
Jennifer Kernke

Art Direction by
Alison Riva

Costume Design by
Nicky Gillbrand

Makeup Department
Caroline Clements	....	makeup artist
Suzie Zamit	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Gina Carter	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Finn McGrath	....	second assistant director
Jez Murrell	....	third assistant director
Mary Soan	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Tom Burton	....	assistant art director
Paul Cutler	....	property master
Cathy Ryan	....	scenic artist
Joanna Tyler	....	art assistant
Vanda Vivian	....	property buyer

Sound Department
Richard Finney	....	sound maintenance (as Richie Finney)
Peter Glossop	....	production sound mixer
Diane Greaves	....	foley artist
Colin Martin	....	dubbing mixer
Larry Sider	....	sound
Matt Skilton	....	foley recordist
Jack Stew	....	foley artist

Special Effects by
Dave Crownshaw	....	special effects technician

Camera and Electrical Department
Glyn Fielding	....	grip
Jill Furmanovsky	....	still photographer
Allessandra Scherillo	....	focus puller
David Smith	....	gaffer
Tiffany Walker	....	clapper loader

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Zeb Ibrahim	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Emily Lincoln	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Nuala Alen-Buckley	....	production accountant
Hilary Benson	....	production coordinator
Kim Brandstrup	....	choreographer
Andy Hennigan	....	production accountant
Jason Hocking	....	assistant to producers
Diane Taylor	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Image Forum
• Koninck Studios
• Pandora Filmproduktion

Distributors

• Asociace Ceských Filmových Klubu (ACFK) (Czech Republic)
• E.D. Distribution (France)
• Zeitgeist Films (1996) (USA)

Other Companies

• Tru-Cut  negative cutting

Also Known As:

Institut Benjamenta oder Dieser Traum, den man menschliches Leben nennt (Germany)
Institute Benjamenta
Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream Which One Calls Human Life (USA)

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

UK | Japan | Germany

Language:

English | German

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

France:U | UK:PG

Company:

Image Forum

Quotes:

Jakob: I shall never let myself be rescued, nor shall I ever rescue anybody.

Movie Connections:

Version of Jakob von Gunten (1971) (TV)

a moving picture work of art

It is fairly rare that moving pictures are made with real artistic value in mind and even more rare when the endeavor pays off. Well, The Quay brothers' Institute Benjamenta is one such picture. At first sight it might appear a little too pretentious with an abounding array of hidden symbolism of a strange and antique meaning but then again, the basic thread of the picture is as old as humanity itself, pointing back to the ancestral roots of what makes us human: to love and to loose. It is remarkable the technique and the rendering of the camera in the Quay brothers' masterpiece. You cannot but help wondering if the images themselves are not centuries old and, in a sense, that is exactly the aim of the picture, to make itself look old and timeless, at the same time. I urge anyone who is really looking for that special feeling films give us, far from commercialism and hollywoodia, to see this movie. Sure, most of you will find it a little bit hard to watch but if you give it patience and let the mood of the picture fill you from within your imagination then I think this will be a rewarding cinematic experience.