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The Five Obstructions

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
Cast:
Lars von Trier,
Jørgen Leth,
Patrick Bauchau,
Stina Ekblad
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Ratings

Your rating: 1
IMDb rating
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7.4
Critic rating
Average critic rating
9.0

Reviews

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william287
marc93
Critic Marc Savlov
rated 8

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
roger177
jesper493

Cast & Crew

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Lars von Trier
As Self / Obstructor (segment "The Conversations")
Lars von Trier
Director
Jørgen Leth
As Voice-over (from Det perfekte menneske) / Self - Director / +
Jørgen Leth
Director
Jørgen Leth
Writer
Patrick Bauchau
As The Perfect Man / Voice-over (Brussels) / Speaker (Cartoon)
Stina Ekblad
As Woman with Money (from Notater om kærligheden) (segment Cartoon)

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

 

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