Japan Synopsis
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?
Animation + Drama in Japan
730 Japan titles in our catalog blend the Animation and Drama genres. Below: the top-rated of them (excluding Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life itself).
The 1994–1996 Japan Window
Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life holds position #28 of 143 Japan films in the 1994–1996 window, below highlighted by audience rating.
The 1990s Japan Landscape
Catalog density by release year across the 1990s in Japan, 447 titles in total. Highlighted year (yellow) is when Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life premiered alongside 59 others.
Position in Catalog
Released alongside 59 other Japan films in 1995.
The 1024th Japan title from Japan we index (earliest catalogued entry: 1899).
Our Japan catalog contains 4,579 titles in total (2,908 films).
Audience Engagement
39 audience reviews — more than 58% of Japan films in our index.
Review volume (58th percentile) outruns trending popularity (20th) — a durable title with sustained audience attention.
Reception Benchmarks
Ranked #963 of 4,579 Japan films indexed here (79th percentile by TMDB audience score).
Rating is +0.8 points above the Japan average of 6.9/10.
Among Japan Animation productions specifically: #785 of 2,532 (top 31%).
Production Details
| Primary Country | Japan |
|---|---|
| All Production Countries | Germany, Japan, United Kingdom |
| Original Language | En |
| Spoken Languages | Afrikaans, English, German, Spanish |
| Production Companies | Koninck Studios, Image Forum, Pandora Film, Hot Property Films, Film4 Productions |
| Runtime | 1h 44m |
| Release Date | August 1, 1995 |
| IMDb | tt0113429 |
| Official Site | www.hotpropertyfilms.com |