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?
Cast
Crew
Stephen Quay
Director, Writer
Timothy Quay
Director, Writer
Weiser Quay
Co-Director
Alan Passes
Writer
Robert Walser
Book
Larry Sider
Editor
Nicholas D. Knowland
Director of Photography
Mary Soan
First Assistant Director
Finn McGrath
Second Assistant Director
Jez Murrell
Third Assistant Director
Hilary Benson
Production Coordinator
Karl Baumgartner
Producer
Keith Griffiths
Producer
Janine Marmot
Producer
Katsue Tomiyama
Producer
Jason Hocking
Producer's Assistant
Jennifer Kernke
Production Design
Tim Palmer
Camera Trainee
Irene Lamb
Casting
Irene Lamb
Casting
Nicky Gillibrand
Costume Design
Caroline Clements
Makeup Artist
Suzie Zamit
Makeup Artist
Jack Stew
Foley Artist
Dave Crownshaw
Special Effects
Lech Jankowski
Original Music Composer
Andy Hennigan
Production Accountant
Tiffany Walker
Clapper Loader
Diane Taylor
Continuity
Gerald Fielding
Grip
Gina Carter
Production Manager
Alessandra Scherillo
Focus Puller
Alison Riva
Art Direction
Ian Nicholas
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