The Five Obstructions (2003)
"De fem benspænd" (original title)

About a filmmaker not only revisiting, but also recreating (not in a conventional sense) one of his first films, The Perfect Human / Det perfekte menneske (1967)

Writers:

Sophie Destin (poem), Asger Leth (script),

Stars:

Claus Nissen, Majken Algren Nielsen, Daniel Hernandez Rodriguez

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Claus Nissen	...	The Perfect Man - from 'Det perfekte menneske' 1967 (archive footage)
Majken Algren Nielsen	...	The Perfect Woman, from 'Det perfekte menneske' 1967) (archive footage) (as Maiken Algren)
Daniel Hernandez Rodriguez	...	The Perfect Man (segment "Obstruction #1 - The Perfect Human: Cuba")
Jacqueline Arenal	...	The Perfect Woman (segment "Obstruction #1 - The Perfect Human: Cuba")
Vivian Rosa
Jørgen Leth	...	Voice-over (from "Det perfekte menneske" 1967) / Himself - Director (segments "The Conversations") / Voice-over (segment "The Perfect Human: Cuba," segment "The Perfect Human: Bombay," segment "The Perfect Human: Cartoon") / Himself -The Perfect Man - Voice-over (segment "The Perfect Human: Avedøre, Denmark")
Patrick Bauchau	...	The Perfect Man / Voice-over (segment "The Perfect Human: Brunelles Brussels") / Speaker (segment "Obstruction #4 - The Perfect Human: Cartoon")
Alexandra Vandernoot	...	The Perfect Woman (segment "The Perfect Human: Brunelles Brussels")
Marie Dejaer	...	Maid (segment "The Perfect Human: Brunelles Brussels")
Pascal Perez	...	Couple (Man) (segment "The Perfect Human: Brunelles Brussels")
Meschell Perez	...	Couple (Woman) (segment "The Perfect Human: BrunellesBrussels")
Bent Christensen	...	Gangster (from "Det gode og det onde" 1975) (segment "The Perfect Human: Cartoon" (archive footage)
Anders Hove	...	Naked Man (from "Notater om kærligheden" 1989) ( fsegment "The Perfect Human: Cartoon" (archive footage)
Charlotte Sieling	...	Naked Woman (from "Notater om kærligheden" 1989) ( segment "The Perfect Human: Cartoon" (archive footage)
Jan Nowicki	...	Man with Jacket (from "Notater om kærligheden" 1989) ( segment "Obstruction #4 - The Perfect Human (archive footage)

Storyline

"The Five Obstructions", a 100 min. theatre documentary directed by Lars von Trier and Jørgen Leth. An investigative journey into the phenomenon of "documentary", based on manifestos written by each director. About a filmmaker not only revisiting, but also recreating (not in a conventional sense) one of his first films, The Perfect Human / Det perfekte menneske (1967), a document on life in Denmark, containing the familiar Leth idiosyncrasies

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Plot Keywords:

director | part animation | india | filmmaking | remake | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Official Sites:

Films Sans Frontières [France]

Country:

Denmark Switzerland Belgium France

Language:

Danish English French Spanish

Release Date:

21 November 2003 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

As Cinco Obstruções

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$13,040 (USA) (28 May 2004)

Gross:

$92,221 (USA) (2 July 2004)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Almaz Film Productions S.A., Panic Productions, Wajnbrosse Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Black and White (archive footage) Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During one of the conversation segments in the documentary Lars von Trier and Jørgen Leth agree that Leth will receive full credit for the fifth and final Obstruction entitled "The Perfect Human: Avedøre, Denmark" despite not directing it, and that Trier will receive none, although he will direct it. This, apparently, is within the rules of the game played out by the two directors during the documentary, and serves as an inside joke.

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Connections

Edited from Notes on Love (1989)

User Reviews

A Witty Premise That Grows Clouded by Over-Analysis and Self-Absorption

Modern art house director Lars von Trier spends a few months torturing his idol, the experimental documentarian Jørgen Leth, in a variety of cruel and unusual ways. As the taskmaster of a twisted private game, von Trier compels Leth to painstakingly recreate his 1967 surrealist short, The Perfect Human, on five different occasions with a gauntlet of handicaps and restrictions. A shoot might require that he employ no more than twelve frames between cuts or travel across the globe, and Leth is merrily game for it all. Ultimately, the goal is to strip the film down to the core and unravel its mysteries - many of which were seemingly lost to the director himself - and it does successfully dip a few toes into those waters. But as Leth gets more films under his belt, the obstructions become more passive, quizzical and vague. By the time we arrive at the delivery of his final film, a light, enjoyable concept has become too heady and analytical for its own good, and neither man is smiling with the kind of vigor they were at the outset.