Directed by Lars von Trier and Jørgen Leth
DENMARK, 2003
90 MINUTES
IN DANISH, ENGLISH, FRENCH & SPANISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES
KOCH LORBER FILMS

Koch Lorber Films

Koch Lorber Films

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” (e.g. “no shot shall last more than 12 frames,” “film in the most miserable place on earth”). A film festival favorite, THE FIVE OBSTRUCTIONS has been called “delicious” (Sight & Sound), “lively, funny and thought-provoking” (The Onion), “destined to be one of the best films of year” (John Anderson, Newsday), and “a treatise on discipline, moviemaking, one-upsmanship, and megalomania…a moving portrait of friendship… a Lars von Trier movie for people who hate Lars von Trier movies” (Nathan Lee, New York Sun).

• Click here to see the schedule for Thirteen’s REEL NEW YORK, New York’s first independent film and video series for television, premiering June 3rd. Film Forum is a Media Sponsor of Channel 13’s Reel NY series, whose season runs from June 3 - July 22.
• The pupil's revenge: Veteran Danish director Jorgen Leth tells Xan Brooks why he went along with Lars von Trier's Five Obstructions, and why he won't be beaten by them- article from The Guardian
• Jorgen Leth page (in french)
• Lars Von Trier fan site
• Danish film institute
• The Internet Movie Database Lars Von Trier page
• The Internet Movie Database Jorgen Leth page

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