Should you watch The Five Obstructions?
Who it’s good for, who it isn’t, and what’s in it. No ratings, no scores.

The Five Obstructions
Documentary · 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.
The sides of The Five Obstructions
- Jørgen Leth remaking his own short film
- Lars von Trier inventing the rules
- One remake made as a cartoon
The Five Obstructions is good for you if…
- you like a game between two directors that keeps getting stranger.
- you're fascinated by Lars von Trier trying to break his mentor.
- you enjoy two filmmakers sparring across a table.
The Five Obstructions is bad for you if…
- you won't read subtitles for the Danish parts.
- you need to know at the end who won the game between the two men.
About: creativity · constraints · mentorship
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