Institute Benjamenta (Quay Bros)

[pro-bassoonist]

Institute Benjamenta (1995) has received a preliminary release date: March 2010. Courtesy of the British Film Institute.

AmazonUK Pre-order:

Institute Benjamenta


San Francisco Chronicle:

`Institute Benjamenta,'' the first full-length feature by the Brothers Quay, ought to divide people evenly between those who think it's brilliant and those who think it's claptrap.

In either case, the decidedly offbeat movie, opening at the Castro today, will probably seem partly, if not entirely, unfathomable.

But that isn't necessarily the worst thing that could happen to a film as visually fascinating as this one. It has an undeniable black- and-white allure, and occasionally mixes a provocative dreamscape with a brutally repressive atmosphere that imposes the rigors of myth and religion.

It's probably best to know nothing about ``Institute Benjamenta'' before seeing it, so that the Quays' ambitious plunge into fantasy, long silences, weirdly insistent gazes and fairy-tale references come as surprises.

The London-based Brothers Quay (Stephen and Timothy) are known for strange, often eerie animated films (``Street of Crocodile'' and the ``Still Nacht'' quartet are fine examples) that have not been widely distributed but are in vogue among arty cineasts.

``Institute Benjamenta'' is an adaptation of the novella ``Jacob von Gunten'' by Swiss writer Robert Walser, who influenced Franz Kafka. There isn't exactly a tidy, linear plot. The institute is a boarding school for men who want to become servants, but the curriculum consists essentially of one endlessly repeated lesson: self-negation. The students' only goal is to become insignificant.

Jakob, the central character, is played by Mark Rylance (``Angels and Insects''). He is singled out by the harsh headmaster (a frighteningly strange Gottfried John) and his beautiful sister (Alice Krige), who beneath her intimidating exterior is filled with longings for love.

The imagery is rich and enticing, if sometimes puzzling. A room is given to Jakob as a special enticement, but the ceiling is too low for him to stand up. Bells ring, but cannot be heard. Some of the most effective action sequences are mimed, as the students engage in strange rituals of mesmerized swaying.

The film was hauntingly scored by noted Polish composer Lech Jankowski.

Pro-B

[pro-bassoonist]

Thank you for the update, Michael.

Pro-B

[Konrad]

I cannot wait for this! This is exactly the kind of movie I would not have thought will find a release on blu anytime soon. The more pleasant is the surprise! Kudos to the BFI. I shall get it on day one!

[DJANGO]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

Another quick update - the running time of the new documentary is 30 mins.

Also, I can now confirm that the extras will include previously unreleased Quay shorts. I've been asked not to identify them until the official press release has been issued, but the BBFC has let the cat out of the bag with regard to Eurydice - She So Beloved (2007). But there are others as well.

I had a sneak preview of a test pressing of the Blu-ray last week, and it looked absolutely gobsmackingly gorgeous - one of the best hi-def black and white transfers I've ever seen. Mind you, with both the directors and their cinematographer present during the telecine (and absolutely delighted with the end results), that was always a pretty reasonable expectation.

. . . I believe you mentined on the CriterionForum the good news that this will be Region Free . . .

[honeybunker]

Is there something wrong with the Amazon.co.uk page for Institute Benjamenta? It has 9 Nov 2009 for the release date and says "Temporarily out of stock". I'd like to place a pre-order, but want to clear my confusion as to the release date first.

[pro-bassoonist]

Good morning honeybunker,

They have not updated the release date and their system automatically brings up "Out of stock".

You could order safely -- they will update it:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Insti...-Blu-ray/6701/

Pro-B

[honeybunker]

Thanks for clearing that up.

[honeybunker]

Thanks MichealB. Looks like Amazon updated the product page for Institute Benjamin regarding the release date. I just placed an order for Institute Benjamenta, The Pleasure Girls, and The Party's Over. Looking forward to seeing all three for the first time.

[rezpekt]

DVDBeaver's review.

[HansEpp]

Amazon.co.uk has pushed the date back even further:

"This title will be released on June 7, 2010."

A couple of minutes ago it was 31st of May but now...

[Dust Devil]

Well some copies got out because Blahdvd has it in stock.

http://www.blahdvd.com/DVD/Institute...33/product.htm

[Weirded Wonder]

An amazing film with wonderful extras. I cannot stop thinking about this film.

[dumb_dutchman]

I ordered this over a week ago, and I'm going crazy waiting for this disc to make it across the pond.

Does anyone know if there is any word on a collection complete/incomplete/otherwise of the Quay Brothers shorts on the horizon?? I know there are issues with rights, but hopefully something substantial could be cobbled together.

We Pennsylvanians are owed something for having our favorite sons taken away from us!!!

I have been playing and replaying my old Kino collection of shorts waiting for this to arrive.
Crazy I says!!!!