Documentary
The Five Obstructions
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.
Directed by Jørgen Leth, Peter Aalbæk Jensen, Vibeke Windeløv
69
User score
182 votes
Stream on
Status
Released
Released
November 7, 2003
Runtime
1h 28m
Language
English, Danish, French, Spanish
Top cast
Jørgen Leth
Voice-over (from Det perfekte menneske) / Self - Director / +
Lars von Trier
Self / Obstructor (segment "The Conversations")
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
The Perfect Woman (segment "Cuba")
Vivian Rosa
(segment "Cuba")
Patrick Bauchau
The Perfect Man / Voice-over (Brussels) / Speaker (Cartoon)
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
Gangster (from Det gode og det onde) (segment "Cartoon")
Anders Hove
Naked Man (from Notater om kærligheden) ( segment "Cartoon")
Charlotte Sieling
Naked Woman (from Notater om kærligheden) ( segment "Cartoon")
Jan Nowicki
Man with Jacket (from Notater om kærligheden) ( segment Cartoon)
Stina Ekblad
Woman with Money (from Notater om kærligheden) (segment Cartoon)
Bob Sabiston
Self (segment "The Perfect Human: Cartoon") (uncredited)
