Vor einigen Monaten Zeit bereits wurde eine Blu-ray des Films “Institut Benjamenta oder Dieser Traum, den man menschliches Leben nennt / Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life” [GB / J / BRD 1995] der Quay-Brüder Stephen und Timothy vom British Film Institute (BFI) in Aussicht gestellt, genannte Termine konnten allerdings nicht eingehalten werden. Nun scheint es am 17. Mai 2010 so weit zu sein. Veröffentlicht wird die Blu-ray als “Dual Format Edition” inklusive einer DVD des Films.

Inspired by the writings of the Swiss novelist Robert Walser, Institute Benjamenta is the first live-action feature from the acclaimed surrealist animators, the Quay Brothers. Jakob (Mark Rylance) enrols into the Benjamenta Institute, a dilapidated boarding school for the training of servants. He then tries to unravel the hidden mysteries of the school, his fellow pupils, and Frau and Herr Benjamenta, the siblings who run it. A fascinating symphony of light and shade constructed on the prevailing Quay themes of death, decay, and nothingness.

• Dual Format Edition: Includes both the Blu-ray and the DVD of the film and extras
• Inside the Institute: an in-between world (BFI, 2010, c.30 mins): a brand new documentary about the making of the film, featuring actors Mark Rylance, Alice Krige, as well as the directors, writer, DoP and film editor.
• Original trailer
• Eurydice – She, So Beloved (Quay Brothers, 2007, 12 mins): Monteverdi’s opera L’Orfeo
• The Comb (Quay Brothers, 1990, 17 mins): this short animation explores some of the themes of Institute Benjamenta
• On-set footage (15 mins, DVD only)
• Songs for Dead Children (Quay Brothers / Steve Martland, 2003, 23 mins): Steve Martland’s Street Songs as seen by the visionary animators
• Fully illustrated booklet containing newly commissioned essays, biographies and stills by celebrated photographer Jill Furmanovsky