Institute Benjamenta

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MichaelB
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Institute Benjamenta

#1 Post by MichaelB » Fri Aug 14, 2009 6:42 am

It's too early to go into fine detail about extras etc. (though there should be plenty on that score), but this is shaping up to be a very impressive release - and should be several leagues ahead of the old Kino DVD for transfer quality alone.

That was letterboxed NTSC, and sourced from a 35mm positive print (so at least four generations away from the negative), whereas this brand new HD transfer came from the original finegrain (so just one stage removed from the neg), and the telecine and grading were supervised and approved by the Quays and cinematographer Nic Knowland.

In other words, not only will the Blu-ray potentially offer up to eight times as much detail as the Kino disc, it'll be about as close to definitive as is conceivable with current domestic technology.

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Re: Institute Benjamenta

#2 Post by denti alligator » Fri Aug 14, 2009 9:01 am

I knew this was in the works and had to keep mum. But now that it's official I can celebrate and toast to the BFI for their efforts and for giving this film such loving care! =D>

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Re: Institute Benjamenta

#3 Post by carax09 » Fri Aug 14, 2009 1:42 pm

denti alligator wrote:I knew this was in the works and had to keep mum. But now that it's official I can celebrate and toast to the BFI for their efforts and for giving this film such loving care! =D>
Yup, you're the first person I thought of when this was announced.

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Re: Institute Benjamenta

#4 Post by ouatitw » Fri Aug 14, 2009 3:30 pm

Please tell me the Bluray will be region free.

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Re: Institute Benjamenta

#5 Post by MichaelB » Fri Aug 14, 2009 3:40 pm

ouatitw wrote:Please tell me the Bluray will be region free.
Educated guess says "probably", but I'll try to find out for certain.

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Re: Institute Benjamenta

#6 Post by Tribe » Fri Aug 14, 2009 5:28 pm

Any likelihood this might be re-released in the USA? Any possibility it might be through Zeitgeist, which re-released their short films in a very nice package a few years ago.

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Re: Institute Benjamenta

#7 Post by criterionsnob » Fri Aug 14, 2009 5:33 pm

A Zeitgeist producer told me they'd "probably get around to" Benjamenta at some point. That was a couple of years ago though.

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Re: Institute Benjamenta

#8 Post by Felix » Sun Aug 16, 2009 4:06 am

Been waiting a long time for this one. The Sandman stands out as the key item MIA, though they have also done some wonderful stuff that might be captured on a DVD even if not strictly film (they had an intriguing installation at the gallery in Gateshead IIRC), and then there are the music videos.

I'd like to think the lettering on the spine will match that of Walser's original book like the ICA video did (they do look nice sitting together on my shelves) but I can't see it. Similarly, including the book would be a nice touch and maybe introduce people to this excellent author, but that seems to be more of a CC thing.

And as two of the more unusual people in the film business, their interviews are always worth a watch. Or something like the Dictionary in the short film collection, a real treasure trove of info.

Damn, speculating, one thing I said I would never do...

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Re: Institute Benjamenta

#9 Post by MichaelB » Sun Aug 16, 2009 4:28 am

Felix wrote:Damn, speculating, one thing I said I would never do...
Speculate away - this thread is being read by people who are working on the project (I'm not producing it myself this time, but I have daily chats with the people who are), and I'll make sure all viable suggestions get passed on.

On the subject of MIA shorts, the two major hurdles are music rights and Quay antipathy. We're hoping that the former are at least potentially resolvable (costs and time permitting), but I know that the Quays themselves are adamantly opposed to some titles ever seeing the commercial light of day, either because they considered them to be made-for-the-money 'pacts with the devil' (most of the music videos and all of the ads) or because they think they're embarrassing juvenilia, even if that opinion isn't shared by anyone else. I won't name names, because I'd be delighted to be proved wrong about a couple of titles that they've apparently vetoed - but I think I can say with a fair degree of certainty that there'll be a good reason for anything not being included. When assembling the shorts DVD, I went down their entire filmography, title by title, with the Quays and their producer Keith Griffiths explaining the (then) current situation with rights, materials and personal views on artistic merit, and I believe my successors have performed a similar exercise.

(One thing I can confirm won't be included is their very latest short Inventorium of Traces - it only had its world premiere a few weeks ago, so it was felt to be too soon for it to suffer the fate of becoming a mere DVD extra. The Quays were asked about it anyway, but a negative response was expected and duly received).

The booklet's still in the very early stages of preparation, but I can confirm that a German-speaking Walser and Quay expert has been brought on board. I'm probably going to be writing something for it myself, but I doubt it'll be as conceptually original as the dictionary - that specifically took advantage of the fact that BFI Screenonline was going to be publishing more conventional programme notes on each film (i.e. the kind of thing that would normally go in the booklet), freeing up the space for something more experimental. But if inspiration strikes, you never know...

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Re: Institute Benjamenta

#10 Post by Felix » Sun Aug 16, 2009 12:04 pm

MichaelB wrote: Speculate away - this thread is being read by people who are working on the project (I'm not producing it myself this time, but I have daily chats with the people who are), and I'll make sure all viable suggestions get passed on.

On the subject of MIA shorts, the two major hurdles are music rights and Quay antipathy. We're hoping that the former are at least potentially resolvable (costs and time permitting), but I know that the Quays themselves are adamantly opposed to some titles ever seeing the commercial light of day, either because they considered them to be made-for-the-money 'pacts with the devil' (most of the music videos and all of the ads) or because they think they're embarrassing juvenilia, even if that opinion isn't shared by anyone else. I won't name names, because I'd be delighted to be proved wrong about a couple of titles that they've apparently vetoed - but I think I can say with a fair degree of certainty that there'll be a good reason for anything not being included.

The booklet's still in the very early stages of preparation, but I can confirm that a German-speaking Walser and Quay expert has been brought on board. I'm probably going to be writing something for it myself, but I doubt it'll be as conceptually original as the dictionary - that specifically took advantage of the fact that BFI Screenonline was going to be publishing more conventional programme notes on each film (i.e. the kind of thing that would normally go in the booklet), freeing up the space for something more experimental. But if inspiration strikes, you never know...
Thanks for all the info Michael. Looks very good and nice to see Walser get some recognition. There is the "Making Of" featurette which came with the American release which seems an obvious choice.

This is some info on the installation, it was Leeds, not Gateshead.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/ ... -hell.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and a clip of it on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y25dlOSheoI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

No question of this one being a pact with the devil. Easier on the ear than In Absentia as well...

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Re: Institute Benjamenta

#11 Post by MichaelB » Sun Aug 16, 2009 12:37 pm

Thanks for that - the producers are already aware of everything on your list. In fact, I lent them my copy of the Kino disc only last week, after impulsively measuring the dimensions of its image in pixels (which is why I can be reasonably certain that the Blu-ray will offer about eight times as much detail).

Basically, if it's on the Quays' filmography, you can rest assured that it will have been considered - and that if it isn't included in the final release, there'll be a sound practical reason.

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Re: Institute Benjamenta

#12 Post by Felix » Sun Aug 16, 2009 12:58 pm

MichaelB wrote:Thanks for that - the producers are already aware of everything on your list.

Basically, if it's on the Quays' filmography, you can rest assured that it will have been considered - and that if it isn't included in the final release, there'll be a sound practical reason.
Glad to hear it. Wasn't wasted effort as I had not found the link to the film of She, so Beloved before...

There was a good article in the Guardian (golly...) by Marina Warner on its cinema release, dated November 17th, 1995. Rights may be difficult for that one of course but she has the knowledge of Walser and his tradition. We saw it then at the ICA with Maddin's The Moon Like A Strange Balloon as taster. Wow, some double bill...

Or how about a filmed tour round their studio? This is composer Steve Martland
This time we met at the Quays' studio in Southwark. The exterior is much like any of those rather anonymous business units, but once we passed through the door we were in an eastern European folk tale. The space isn't huge, but, believe me, in that workshop there is a fully functioning Tardis-like dimensional shifter.

The shop opened out and we saw countless books, clocks, tables, small film sets for animation, mirrors and glasses, weird bits of machinery with no apparent function outside of a nightmare, and hanging things of no apparent provenance. I would not have been surprised to find Kafka fretting behind one of the screens.

The brightness outside failed to penetrate the medieval atmosphere lit, of course, by candles.
Yes, I'd love a look at that. Be nice to do a Phantom Museum on them, even better if they did it themselves but that is asking too much I guess...

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Re: Institute Benjamenta

#13 Post by zedz » Sun Aug 16, 2009 7:26 pm

MichaelB wrote:
Felix wrote:Damn, speculating, one thing I said I would never do...
Speculate away - this thread is being read by people who are working on the project (I'm not producing it myself this time, but I have daily chats with the people who are), and I'll make sure all viable suggestions get passed on.
(I don't know if this counts as 'viable', but I know I'd enjoy it.)

Since I believe the Quays themselves are not that keen on commentary tracks, how about asking Guy Maddin, who a) gives great commentary; b) adapted the same novel for Careful?

Alternatively, how about asking MichaelB?

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Re: Institute Benjamenta

#14 Post by MichaelB » Mon Aug 17, 2009 4:38 am

zedz wrote:(I don't know if this counts as 'viable', but I know I'd enjoy it.)

Since I believe the Quays themselves are not that keen on commentary tracks, how about asking Guy Maddin, who a) gives great commentary; b) adapted the same novel for Careful?
Was it actually the same novel? Granted, there are plenty of strong similarities, and the subject matter may well have been an influence, but this is the first I've heard about it being a direct adaptation.
Alternatively, how about asking MichaelB?
Because he'd say no! I'm not averse to the idea of doing a critical commentary in principle, but it absolutely wouldn't be for a film like this: I'd feel compelled to impose some kind of coherent interpretation on material that's deliberately designed to be vague and elusive.

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Re: Institute Benjamenta

#15 Post by HerrSchreck » Mon Aug 17, 2009 7:21 am

MichaelB wrote:Because he'd say no! I'm not averse to the idea of doing a critical commentary in principle, but it absolutely wouldn't be for a film like this: I'd feel compelled to impose some kind of coherent interpretation on material that's deliberately designed to be vague and elusive.
I doff my hat to that impulse in you, sir, if you genuinely would have--or already have in the past-- turned down such an opportunity if it presented itself. Rare's the critic/reviewer/scholar who could resist the opportunity to provide commentary to anything, including Swedish Erotica's Wicky Wacky Prim Proper & Porny All-Color 16mm Bouncing Blasting Bloopers Bleeps 'n Blunders, and thereby at least promulgate, at worst shove down the collective public gullet, their own special theories and ideas about the full catalogue of human experience.

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Re: Institute Benjamenta

#16 Post by zedz » Mon Aug 17, 2009 4:12 pm

MichaelB wrote:
zedz wrote:(I don't know if this counts as 'viable', but I know I'd enjoy it.)

Since I believe the Quays themselves are not that keen on commentary tracks, how about asking Guy Maddin, who a) gives great commentary; b) adapted the same novel for Careful?
Was it actually the same novel? Granted, there are plenty of strong similarities, and the subject matter may well have been an influence, but this is the first I've heard about it being a direct adaptation.
I don't think Careful is a direct anything, but then I wouldn't call Institut Benjamenta a 'direct adaptation' either. Careful roams pretty far and wide, but the "butler school in the mountains" is a direct lift from Jakob von Gunten, and I thought Maddin had always acknowledged this. I'm pretty sure he was a fan of Institut Benjamenta as well, but I don't know where I heard that. (Was it where he found Alice Krige?)

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Re: Institute Benjamenta

#17 Post by MichaelB » Mon Aug 17, 2009 4:15 pm

zedz wrote: I'm pretty sure he was a fan of Institut Benjamenta as well, but I don't know where I heard that. (Was it where he found Alice Krige?)
Other way round, if anything - Careful was made three years earlier.

But I can certainly confirm that the Quays and Maddin are mutual fans.

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Re: Institute Benjamenta

#18 Post by zedz » Mon Aug 17, 2009 4:26 pm

MichaelB wrote:
zedz wrote: I'm pretty sure he was a fan of Institut Benjamenta as well, but I don't know where I heard that. (Was it where he found Alice Krige?)
Other way round, if anything - Careful was made three years earlier.

But I can certainly confirm that the Quays and Maddin are mutual fans.
Was Krige in Careful? I was thinking of those darned ice nymphs (and I don't even like that film).

Thinking back, the Walser connection must have been made by somebody, somewhere with Careful, because I'd read the novel before I saw Benjamenta, and I only heard about if because of the film.

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Re: Institute Benjamenta

#19 Post by MichaelB » Mon Aug 17, 2009 4:29 pm

zedz wrote:Was Krige in Careful? I was thinking of those darned ice nymphs (and I don't even like that film).
You're absolutely right - mea culpa. And I've got no excuse, as I must have seen Careful at least half a dozen times.

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Re: Institute Benjamenta

#20 Post by Felix » Mon Aug 17, 2009 5:41 pm

zedz wrote:Thinking back, the Walser connection must have been made by somebody, somewhere with Careful, because I'd read the novel before I saw Benjamenta, and I only heard about if because of the film.
I saw your earlier post and was very doubtful about it being any sort of adaptation, though the butler bit, the nature of the sexual attraction, the ambience of the film and setting do all tie in. I had a look through the Kino Delirium book and he makes no mention of Walser there. I haven't listened to the commentary though. Perhaps he quoted it as an influence on him.

I hope somebody at Serpent's Tail is aware of the release so they can get the book onto the shelves again.

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Re: Institute Benjamenta

#21 Post by zedz » Mon Aug 17, 2009 5:50 pm

Felix wrote:I saw your earlier post and was very doubtful about it being any sort of adaptation, though the butler bit, the nature of the sexual attraction, the ambience of the film and setting do all tie in. I had a look through the Kino Delirium book and he makes no mention of Walser there. I haven't listened to the commentary though. Perhaps he quoted it as an influence on him.
I'm starting to think that it might have been all some casual observation that calcified into an idée reçue: somebody I knew saw the film the same time I did, knew the Walser and commented on the similarities; I read the book and saw them too and merrily went on assuming that Maddin's film was a (loose) adaptation. I remember being really surprised and intrigued when I heard the Quays had adapted the same (unadaptable?) novel.

Anyway, it's a great, strange book and you should all read it.

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Re: Institute Benjamenta

#22 Post by denti alligator » Mon Aug 17, 2009 7:27 pm

I'm pretty sure Maddin remarks in the commentary to Careful that he didn't read the Walser until after making the film. But I would need to re-listen to be sure...

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Re: Institute Benjamenta

#23 Post by Felix » Tue Aug 18, 2009 6:48 am

zedz wrote:I'm starting to think that it might have been all some casual observation that calcified into an idée reçue: somebody I knew saw the film the same time I did, knew the Walser and commented on the similarities; I read the book and saw them too and merrily went on assuming that Maddin's film was a (loose) adaptation. I remember being really surprised and intrigued when I heard the Quays had adapted the same (unadaptable?) novel.

Anyway, it's a great, strange book and you should all read it.
Amen to the final point, and his book of short stories, The Walk, published in the UK at the same time, is also worth a read. Kafka, no less, quoted him as an influence, and one can certainly see it. I need to check and see if either of the two other novels has been translated.

I had a quick look through Maddin's From The Atelier Tovar to see if there were any clues, and there weren't, but the film treatment for Careful reproduced there emphasises the similarities further.

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Re: Institute Benjamenta

#24 Post by denti alligator » Tue Aug 18, 2009 9:03 am

There are seven (and a half) volumes of Walser available in English translation:

1. The Tanner Siblings (or maybe it's just The Tanners) - first novel, 1907 (trans. Susan Bernofsky)
2. The Assistant - second novel, 1908 (trans. Bernofsky)
3. Jakob von Gunten - third novel, 1909 (trans. Christopher Middleton)
4. The Robber - last novel, circa 1925 (trans. Bernofsky)

5. Selected Stories (trans. Middleton) - includes "The Walk" that Felix mentioned
6. Masquerade - selected short prose (trans. Bernofsky & others)
7. Speaking to the Rose - translations of selected "micrograms" (trans. Middleton)

7.5 Rediscovering Robert Walser - a volume that includes essays on Walser and translations of his fairy tale dramolets, plus a few poems and short prose pieces. If you don't read German, this volume is essential.

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Re: Institute Benjamenta

#25 Post by Felix » Tue Aug 18, 2009 4:39 pm

denti alligator wrote:There are seven (and a half) volumes of Walser available in English translation:

3. Jakob von Gunten - third novel, 1909 (trans. Christopher Middleton)
5. Selected Stories (trans. Middleton) - includes "The Walk" that Felix mentioned
7.5 Rediscovering Robert Walser - a volume that includes essays on Walser and translations of his fairy tale dramolets, plus a few poems and short prose pieces. If you don't read German, this volume is essential.
That is a lot more than I expected, thanks. The edition of The Walk (and other stories) I have has translations by Middleton and others, Tom Whelan for one, but mostly Middleton. It has a short foreword by Susan Sontag.

7.5 looks good; 3 for anyone reading who doesn't know it is Institute Benjamenta.

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