The Five Obstructions

The Five Obstructions

2003
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.

The Five Obstructions

Storyline

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.
    Released
    November 2003
    Runtime
    1h 30min
    Director
    Revenue
    $279,032
    Genre
    Status
    Released
    Language
    Danish
    Production
    Panic Productions, Wajnbrosse Productions, Almaz Film Productions, Zentropa Entertainments
Cast
Jørgen Leth
Jørgen Leth
Voice-over (from Det perfekte menneske) / Self - Director / +
Lars von Trier
Lars von Trier
Self / Obstructor (segment "The Conversations")
Claus Nissen
Claus Nissen
The Perfect Man (from Det perfekte menneske) (archive footage)
Majken Algren Nielsen
The Perfect Woman (from Det perfekte menneske) (archive footage)
Daniel Hernandez Rodriguez
The Perfect Man (segment "Cuba")
Jacqueline Arenal
Jacqueline Arenal
The Perfect Woman (segment "Cuba")
Vivian Rosa
(segment "Cuba")
Patrick Bauchau
Patrick Bauchau
The Perfect Man / Voice-over (Brussels) / Speaker (Cartoon)
Alexandra Vandernoot
Alexandra Vandernoot
The Perfect Woman (segment "Brussels")
Marie Dejaer
Maid (segment "Brussels")
Pascal Perez
Couple (Man) (segment "Brussels")
Meschell Perez
Couple (Woman) (segment "Brussels")
Bent Christensen
Bent Christensen
Gangster (from Det gode og det onde) (segment "Cartoon")
Anders Hove
Anders Hove
Naked Man (from Notater om kærligheden) ( segment "Cartoon")
Charlotte Sieling
Charlotte Sieling
Naked Woman (from Notater om kærligheden) ( segment "Cartoon")
Jan Nowicki
Jan Nowicki
Man with Jacket (from Notater om kærligheden) ( segment Cartoon)
Stina Ekblad
Stina Ekblad
Woman with Money (from Notater om kærligheden) (segment Cartoon)
Bob Sabiston
Bob Sabiston
Self (segment "The Perfect Human: Cartoon") (uncredited)
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