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The Institute Benjamenta (1995)

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Average Rating: 7.5/10
Reviews Counted: 6
Fresh: 6 | Rotten: 0

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 1
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 0

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Average Rating: 4.2/5
User Ratings: 1,007

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Movie Info

From the directing team of identical twin brothers Timothy Quay and Stephen Quay, Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life focuses on the experiences of Jakob Von Gunten (Mark Rylance), who has come to the titular institute to train to become a manservant. Amidst a series of unorthodox lessons under the instruction of brother and sister Johannes Benjamenta (Gottfried John) and Lisa Benjamenta (Alice Krige), Jakob becomes attracted to Lisa and she to him. As the magnetism

Unrated, 1 hr. 45 min.

Drama, Action & Adventure, Art House & International, Special Interest

Directed By: Stephen Quay , Timothy Quay

Written By: Stephen Quay, Timothy Quay, Alan Passes

In Theaters: Jan 28, 1996 Wide

On DVD: Aug 1, 2000

Cast

Mark Rylance
Jakob von Gunten
Alice Krige
Lisa Benjamenta
Gottfried John
Johannes Benjamenta
Daniel Smith
Kraus
Joseph Alessi
Pepino
Cesar Sarachu
Inigo
Jonathan Stone
Hebling
Peter Lovstrom
Jörgenson, J�rgenson, ...
Uri Roodner
Schilinski
Peter Whifield
Null

Critic Reviews for The Institute Benjamenta

All Critics (13) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (6) | Rotten (0) | DVD (3)

an abstract, uncanny experience which, like any good servant, is far too tactful just to blurt out its masters' secrets.

May 17, 2010 Full Review Source: Eye for Film

| Comment

Anton Bitel

Eye for Film

A beautiful, complex work that's more easily enjoyed in hindsight.

August 8, 2006 Full Review Source: Lessons of Darkness

| Comment

Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

A one-of-a-kind education in creative filmmaking.

October 28, 2002 Full Review Source: Wired

| Comment

Phil Hall

Wired

The film sets a nightmarish tone.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

| Comment

Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

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Audience Reviews for The Institute Benjamenta

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"Sometimes more life lies hidden in the opening of a door than in a question. Past & future circle about. Now we know more, now we know less." Strangely hypnotic, erotic, masochistic. Beautiful imagery, dark humor. Very Kafka, very Lynch-esque. "Please sniff..."

February 16, 2007

CJ C.

This game we call the human life, as incest - there is something primal in the symbology of this work, and yet the obsessive-compulsive madness of Quayesque rigor renders it wooden and insipid, repetitive - it is in this repetition that the actors in this human drama find their shells and live them out, not without

December 13, 2006