Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream We Call Human Life

Proof, if any were required, that "unique" doesn't necessarily equal "compelling." The Brothers Quay, best known for their animated shorts, are unrivaled in the creation of dreamlike, self-contained, creepily atmospheric, profoundly mysterious worlds; however, a little of their hermetic beauty goes a pretty long way. The first twenty minutes of Institute Benjamenta--a live-action film concerning a butler-in-training's bizarre experiences at the eponymous institute--are visually stunning and freakily evocative. Each successive reel, however, is simply more of the same; nothing in particular happens, most of the time, and the events that do take place seem both random and opaque. Though several fine actors were employed for the production--Mark Rylance, Alice Krige, Gottfried John--they aren't really allowed to give what I would call "performances," and I couldn't help feeling that the Quays considered them a necessary evil. Intriguing, but ultimately very boring. Not recommended. [Note: Kino is also releasing The Brothers Quay Collection, 10 shorts made between 1984-1993, for $24.95.] (M. D'Angelo)[DVD Review—July 17, 2012—Zeitgeist, 104 min., not rated, $29.99—Making its second appearance on DVD, 1995's Institute Benjamenta sports a nice transfer and mono sound. DVD extras include a behind-the-scenes featurette (15 min.), the 2007 short “Eurydice, She So Beloved” by the Quay Brothers (12 min.), trailers, and a 12-page booklet. Bottom line: a solid release of this love-it-or-hate-it art film.]