The Five Obstructions (2003)
Lars von Trier, true to form, has a bizarre way of showing his regard for mentor Jørgen Leth whose 1967 short film "The Perfect Human", he claims to have seen 20 times. Von Trier challenges Leth to remake the film following an increasingly difficult set of "obstructions".
Cast and Information
Directed By: Lars von Trier, Jørgen Leth
Written By: Lars von Trier, Jørgen Leth, Asger Leth, Sophie Destin
Starring: Lars von Trier, Patrick Bauchau, Jørgen Leth, Alexandra Vandernoot, Jacqueline Arenal, Daniel Hernández Rodríguez, Marie Dejaer
Genres: Drama, Documentary
AKA: De Fem benspænd
Country: Belgium, Denmark, France, Switzerland
Where to Stream
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The Five Obstructions belongs to 26 collections
1. Features under 91 minutes (collaborative: moderated by epiphany - 56 stars)
2. 21st Century Top 250 (collaborative: moderated by dardan - 49 stars)
3. The Story of Film: An Odyssey (collaborative: moderated by rant1229 - 20 stars)
4. Documentaries about movies (collaborative: moderated by djross - 19 stars)
5. Experimental/Avant-Garde (collaborative: moderated by Dorkovsky - 14 stars)
6. FIPRESCI Prize (collaborative: moderated by paulofilmo - 14 stars)
7. Harvard University's Suggested Film Viewing List: Narrative Films (collaborative: moderated by dardan - 12 stars)
8. Filmmaking (collaborative: moderated by Dorkovsky - 9 stars)
9. similar to julien donkey boy (public: kikifas - 8 stars)
10. Skandies (collaborative: moderated by toro913 - 7 stars)
11. Djross cinematic essays (public: djross - 7 stars)
12. Djross best documentaries (public: djross - 5 stars)
13. Rotoscoping (collaborative: moderated by djross - 3 stars)
14. Sight & Sound's Films of the Decade (00-09) (collaborative: moderated by CCLZA - 3 stars)
15. Aughties Films to See (public: theficionado - 3 stars)
16. Djross film as art (public: djross - 3 stars)
17. The Lost Picture Show Podcast (collaborative: moderated by Coheed - 2 stars)
18. Djross best movies about filmmaking (public: djross - 2 stars)
19. Djross documentary of the year (public: djross - 2 stars)
20. Metacosmic and sexorganological cinema (public: djross - 1 star)
21. Djross seen at the cinema (public: djross)
22. Djross 2003 top ten (public: djross)
23. 2003: Year in Review (public: polanski28)
24. Filmspotting Ratings Project: Week 8 (public: PeaceAnarchy)
25. Djross Danish feature films I've seen (public: djross)
26. Tom's Movies (public: tomwalsh)
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| Stars | User | Rating | |
| 5 |  |
Shmendrek | 5 96th |
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Awesome idea for a film. I love the mindgames between the two directors and their quest to outdo one another. Their relationship is also very touching. You can tell von Trier really respects Jorgen Leth.
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| 3 |  |
djross | 84 94th |
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A film which could not have been conceived by anyone other than Lars von Trier.
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| 3 |  |
miss jesus | 92 94th |
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Asks a lot of fascinating questions about filmmaking. It's great to see the way Von Trier tries to trap Leth, and then how Leth finds ways to weasel around him and still make a good short. The India clip is one of the most visually stunning pieces of film I've ever seen. Extremely enjoyable and thought-provoking movie.
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| 2 | duandsku | 85 74th |
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One of my favorite films about the craft of filmmaking. Thoughtful, stark, hypnotic, intoxicating. A must for those interested in where the thought process behind "art cinema" leads directors.
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| 2 |  |
Dorkovsky | 8 90th |
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An example of the power of film as an art, and how true artists can find a way to be creative and unique under any circumstances.
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| 2 |  |
Ytadel | 3 28th |
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My favorite Lars von Trier film! Of course, Lars von Trier is my least favorite filmmaker of all time, so take that as you will!
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| 2 |  |
frankswild | 85 86th |
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I enjoyed watching the movie and it was interesting to watch the concept play out. I feel like the real payoff happens when one takes the idea presented and thinks about the hypothetical or actual application to one's own or another's artistic practice, regardless of form or media.
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| 2 |  |
DavidBlast | 70 65th |
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Leave it to Trier's devlish ingenuity to challenge one of his mentors, Jørgen Leth, to redo a movie about perfection. These sort of experiments should be applauded and encouraged. Leth's results are rather magnificant, but the in-between talks seem staged and/or badly filmed/edited. But whatever, this random dude on IMDB said it best when he said "I don't know much about art, but this movie is like that scene where Obi-Wan meets Darth Vader".
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| 1 |  |
MartinTeller | 84 81st |
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This takes the Dogme95 ideas to the next level, allowing him to torment other directors the way he torments his actors. It's a fascinating examination of the filmmaking process, and how boundaries can affect the output. LVT isn't interested in getting a "good" movie, he pushes Leth to personally delve deeper into the meaning of his work. The one problem I had was that I felt the obstructions got progressively less interesting. Still, it's a brilliant idea, and one I'd love to see him try again.
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| 1 |  |
PeaceAnarchy | 89 92nd |
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I don't know that I agree with von Trier's purported motivations for the film, both in theory and execution, but the resulting film, and the insight into Leth's creative process it provides, is fascinating regardless. The discussions between the two, showing the malleable interpersonal dynamic where they take turns challenging each other, are great, a kind of Dinner with Andre focused on slightly sour filmmakers discussing their craft and trying to unravel each others motivations and feelings.
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| 1 |  |
sebby | 70 71st |
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Any mental health professional would have a field day with von Trier. He's got all kinds of weird love/hate, student/mentor shit going on with Jorgen Leth. And of course that's what makes the movie so riveting. Probably my favorite thing that LVT has done.
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| 1 |  |
hellsditch | 81 68th |
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A really engrossing game of one-upsmanship. I won't pretend to be smart enough to "figure out" the meaning behind the original "The Perfect Human", but I really enjoyed seeing this duel of personalities unfold, along with Leth's creative solutions to Trier's "obstructions". Possibly my favorite aspect: Trier's glum resignation that Leth was succeeding in making interesting films..."I would love for it to be crap."
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| 1 |  |
Anselmi86 | 74 59th |
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A very interesting look at the obstacles a filmmaker must tackle. It's also amusing to see these two egos wrestle with each other. However, I felt that the ending lacked the profundity that the one director hoped for.
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| 1 |  |
deaddilly | 85 84th |
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Manages to closely articulate the joust of mental warfare between two creative forces who happen to be great friends. This is really a deeply felt show of respect and love from LVT to one of his clear mentors.
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| 1 |  |
SeanBerndorff | 75 64th |
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Fun to watch how two of denmark's most iconic directors sparks with originality when put together. My favorite of the short films they make in the process was actually the first one. Loved when Leth said that he wasn't perverse...
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| 1 | peppert | 85 86th |
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A lesson in filmmaking and the nature of art in film
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| 1 |  |
Yiannos | 73 77th |
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What's the connection between life, discipline and creativity?
Von Trier's film makes a compelling case for the external imposition of rigid aesthetic standards, while also fashioning a playful tribute to one of his mentors.
A unique experience.
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| Average Percentile 63.5% from 671 Ratings |  |