The Five Obstructions(2003)
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The Five Obstructions Synopsis
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 Five Obstructions (2003) is a documentary film directed by Lars von Trier, released on November 7, 2003 with a runtime of 1h 28m. It stars Jørgen Leth, Lars von Trier, Claus Nissen and Majken Algren Nielsen. Viewers rate it 6.9 out of 10 across 184 ratings.
- Director:
- Lars von Trier
- Writers:
- Asger Leth, Jørgen Leth, Lars von Trier
- Producers:
- Anders Jacobsen, Carsten Holst
- Cinematographer:
- Dan Holmberg
- Production:
- Panic Productions, Wajnbrosse Productions, Almaz Film Productions, Zentropa Entertainments
- Revenue:
- $279,032
- Status:
- Released
The Five Obstructions (2003) Trailer
Watch the official trailer for The Five Obstructions before you stream it.
The Five Obstructions Cast & Crew
Main cast
Jørgen Leth
as Voice-over (from Det perfekte menneske) / Self - Director / +
Lars von Trier
as Self / Obstructor (segment "The Conversations")
Claus Nissen
as The Perfect Man (from Det perfekte menneske) (archive footage)
- Majken Algren Nielsen
Majken Algren Nielsen
as The Perfect Woman (from Det perfekte menneske) (archive footage)
- Daniel Hernandez Rodriguez
Daniel Hernandez Rodriguez
as The Perfect Man (segment "Cuba")
Jacqueline Arenal
as The Perfect Woman (segment "Cuba")
- Vivian Rosa
Vivian Rosa
as (segment "Cuba")
Patrick Bauchau
as The Perfect Man / Voice-over (Brussels) / Speaker (Cartoon)
Alexandra Vandernoot
as The Perfect Woman (segment "Brussels")
- Marie Dejaer
Marie Dejaer
as Maid (segment "Brussels")
- Pascal Perez
Pascal Perez
as Couple (Man) (segment "Brussels")
- Meschell Perez
Meschell Perez
as Couple (Woman) (segment "Brussels")
Key crew
Directed by Lars von Trier, written by Asger Leth, Jørgen Leth and Lars von Trier, produced by Anders Jacobsen and Carsten Holst.
Explore more Documentary titles
The Five Obstructions Reviews & Ratings
Average viewer score of 6.9/10 from 184 ratings.
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The Five Obstructions – Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch The Five Obstructions online?
+
The Five Obstructions (2003) is available to stream on MUBI and MUBI Amazon Channel. Streaming availability is checked against JustWatch data and can change by region.
Who stars in The Five Obstructions?
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The main cast of The Five Obstructions (2003) includes Jørgen Leth, Lars von Trier, Claus Nissen, Majken Algren Nielsen and Daniel Hernandez Rodriguez. The film was directed by Lars von Trier. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
When was The Five Obstructions released?
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The Five Obstructions was released on November 7, 2003 and runs for 1h 28m.
Is The Five Obstructions worth watching?
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The Five Obstructions (2003) holds an average rating of 6.9 out of 10 from 184 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy documentary films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.
Is there a trailer for The Five Obstructions?
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Yes. The official The Five Obstructions trailer is embedded in the trailer section of this page and plays instantly, no download or sign-up required.