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?
Is Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life on Netflix? Unfortunately the movie Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life is not yet available on Netflix.
| Directing | Stephen Quay | Director |
| Directing | Timothy Quay | Director |
| Costume & Make-Up | Caroline Clements | Makeup Artist |
| Costume & Make-Up | Suzie Zamit | Makeup Artist |
| Directing | Weiser Quay | Co-Director |
| Sound | Lech Jankowski | Original Music Composer |
| Crew | Dave Crownshaw | Special Effects |
| Production | Karl Baumgartner | Producer |
| Costume & Make-Up | Nicky Gillibrand | Costume Design |
| Production | Keith Griffiths | Producer |
| Production | Janine Marmot | Producer |
| Production | Gina Carter | Production Manager |
| Production | Katsue Tomiyama | Producer |
| Production | Irene Lamb | Casting |
| Art | Jennifer Kernke | Production Design |
| Art | Alison Riva | Art Direction |
| Editing | Larry Sider | Editor |
| Writing | Timothy Quay | Writer |
| Writing | Alan Passes | Writer |
| Writing | Stephen Quay | Writer |
| Camera | Nicholas D. Knowland | Director of Photography |
| Sound | Jack Stew | Foley Artist |
