Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life
Jakob arrives at the Institute Benjamenta (managed by Johannes and Lisa Benjamenta, brothers and sisters) to learn how to be a servant. He studies under Lisa with seven other men: crazy instruction in movement, drawing circles, and servility. He requests a larger room. No other pupils come, and none depart for work. Johannes is dissatisfied, imperious, and disengaged from the school's operations. Lisa is stunning, at first firmly controlled, then on the point of a nervous collapse. There's a strong odor of incest. Jakob is drawn to Lisa, and she may be pulled to him. She goes catatonic as winter approaches. Things worsen; Johannes observes that all of this has occurred since Jakob's arrival. Is there a relationship between cause and effect?
Released: 1995-08-01
Duration: 104
min