Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life is a 1995 drama film by the brothers Quay in their feature debut.

Based on Robert Walser's novel Jakob von Gunten, the film stars Mark Rylance, Alice Krige and Gottfried John.

In addition, while Jakob wonders about the activities of Herr and Lisa Benjamenta in the novel, the film clearly displays an incestuous relationship.

[3] Writing in the journal Adaptation, David Sorfa argues that many of the projects of the Brothers Quay discuss the idea that a "metaphysical interior" may exist.

[1] Ariel Swartley of The New York Times has drawn a comparison between Jakob's efforts to "turn himself into a machine" as a servant and the animation of objects that the Brothers Quay have focused on in their previous stop-motion films.

[5] Stephen Quay has said that they sought to convey a similar sense of "otherness" through the actors as they had done through puppets in previous projects.

Silke Horstkotte has argued that the gestures of the actors and surreal aspects of the school also recall silent film conventions.

[1] Michael Atkinson praised the film's originality, stating that at times it is comparable to the "inevitable grip of the best David Lynch".