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The Five Obstructions poster

The Five Obstructions (2003)

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.

Release: 2003-11-07
Runtime: 90 min
Rating: 6.911 / 10
Cast
Jørgen Leth
Jørgen Leth
Voice-over (from Det perfekte menneske) / Self - Director / +
Lars von Trier
Lars von Trier
Self / Obstructor (segment "The Conversations")
Claus Nissen
Claus Nissen
The Perfect Man (from Det perfekte menneske) (archive footage)
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Majken Algren Nielsen
The Perfect Woman (from Det perfekte menneske) (archive footage)
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Daniel Hernandez Rodriguez
The Perfect Man (segment "Cuba")
Jacqueline Arenal
Jacqueline Arenal
The Perfect Woman (segment "Cuba")
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Vivian Rosa
(segment "Cuba")
Patrick Bauchau
Patrick Bauchau
The Perfect Man / Voice-over (Brussels) / Speaker (Cartoon)
Alexandra Vandernoot
Alexandra Vandernoot
The Perfect Woman (segment "Brussels")
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Marie Dejaer
Maid (segment "Brussels")
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Pascal Perez
Couple (Man) (segment "Brussels")
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Meschell Perez
Couple (Woman) (segment "Brussels")
Bent Christensen
Bent Christensen
Gangster (from Det gode og det onde) (segment "Cartoon")
Anders Hove
Anders Hove
Naked Man (from Notater om kærligheden) ( segment "Cartoon")
Charlotte Sieling
Charlotte Sieling
Naked Woman (from Notater om kærligheden) ( segment "Cartoon")
Jan Nowicki
Jan Nowicki
Man with Jacket (from Notater om kærligheden) ( segment Cartoon)
Stina Ekblad
Stina Ekblad
Woman with Money (from Notater om kærligheden) (segment Cartoon)
Bob Sabiston
Bob Sabiston
Self (segment "The Perfect Human: Cartoon") (uncredited)