The Five Obstructions Movie (2003): Where to watch and stream online

The Five Obstructions

Documentary

2003, Movie, 1h 30min

In 1967, experimental filmmaker Jorgen Leth created a striking short film, The Perfect Human, starring a man and women sitting in a box while a narrator poses questions about their relationship and humanity. Years later, Danish director Lars von Trier made a deal with Leth to remake his film five times, each under a different set of circumstances and with von Trier's strictly prescribed rules. As Leth completes each challenge, von Trier creates increasingly further elaborate stipulations.

Country: Switzerland,France,Belgium,Denmark

Directors:

Cast:

Reviews

Critic William Thomas

rated

Witty, funny and moving, this film shows von Trier's genius in a warm and flattering light.

Read full review at Empire

Critic Marc Savlov

rated

This is a friendly game of cat and mouse between the imperturbable elder statesman Leth and his bastard offspring: the capricious, smug von Trier. You’d expect nothing less from the founder of the Dogme 95 movement.

Read full review at The Austin Chronicle

Critic Roger Ebert

rated

...a perverse game of one-upmanship between the Danish director Lars von Trier and his mentor Jorgen Leth

Read full review at Roger Ebert

Critic Jesper Vestergaard

rated

...et originalt mesterværk om, med og af to originaler...

Read full review at Cinemazone

Frequently asked questions

What is The Five Obstructions about? Toggle content

Lars von Trier challenges his mentor, Jørgen Leth, to remake Leth's 1967 short film The Perfect Human five times, each with a different set of bizarre and challenging rules. The documentary follows the process of filmmaking under strenuous conditions, pushing the boundaries of creativity and testing the limits of both filmmakers. The result is a fascinating and unique journey into the heart of the filmmaking process.

Where can I stream The Five Obstructions? Toggle content

You can stream The Five Obstructions on: Mubi

What movies are similar to The Five Obstructions? Toggle content

Some movies that have similar genres and were produced around the same time as The Five Obstructions include Los Angeles Plays Itself, Fahrenheit 9/11, Cocaine Cowboys, Jesus Camp, Civil War Minutes Union Vol 2, Chatsworth.

When was The Five Obstructions released in theaters? Toggle content

The Five Obstructions was released in theaters on May 26, 2004.