The Five Obstructions

Overview

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.

Director: Jørgen Leth

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)

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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

The Perfect Woman (segment "Cuba")

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Vivian Rosa

(segment "Cuba")

Patrick Bauchau

The Perfect Man / Voice-over (Brussels) / Speaker (Cartoon)

Alexandra Vandernoot

The Perfect Woman (segment "Brussels")

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Marie Dejaer

Maid (segment "Brussels")