The Five Obstructions

The Five Obstructions (2003)

Genres - Comedy  |   Sub-Genres - Biography, Media Studies  |   Release Date - May 26, 2004 (USA - Limited), Dec 31, 2024 (USA - Unknown)  |   Run Time - 87 min.  |   Countries - Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, France  |   MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Andrea LeVasseur

Danish auteur Lars von Trier directs the documentary-of-sorts The Five Obstructions (De Fem Benspænd). In 2001, von Trier convinces veteran filmmaker Jørgen Leth to create five remakes of his 1967 short The Perfect Human. Calling himself the Obstructor, von Trier orders Leth to make his films in various parts of the world with extremely specific demands. For instance, the first film must be shot in Cuba with no set with only 12 frames per shot. The five remakes-within-the-film are "The Perfect Human: Bombay," "The Perfect Human: Brussels," "The Perfect Human: Cartoon," "The Perfect Human: Cuba," and "The Perfect Human: Avedøre, Denmark." Each has its own set of ridiculous limitations created by von Trier. The Five Obstructions was shown at the Sundance Film Festival as part of a special screening.

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Keywords

challenge, creativity, film-director, filmmaker, intimidation, manipulation, process [procedure], short-films