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?
Alice Krige
as Lisa Benjamenta
Mark Rylance
as Jakob
Gottfried John
as Herr Benjamenta
Daniel Smith
as Kraus
Joseph Alessi
as Pepino
Jonathan Stone
as Hebling
César Saratxu
as Inigo
Peter Lovstrom
as Jorgenson
Uri Roodner
as Schilinski
Peter Whitfield
as
