The Five Obstructions
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.
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Cast
19 people
Jørgen Leth
Voice-over (from Det perfekte menneske) / Self - Director / +
Also in
Ronnie Rosé si'r helt go'nat
Sanselighedens pris
Melanie Munt
Lars von Trier
Self / Obstructor (segment "The Conversations")
Known for
Epidemic
The Element of Crime
Claus Nissen
The Perfect Man (from Det perfekte menneske) (archive footage)
Known for
The Kingdom
Z.P.G.
Majken Algren Nielsen
The Perfect Woman (from Det perfekte menneske) (archive footage)
Daniel Hernandez Rodriguez
The Perfect Man (segment "Cuba")
Also in
Obstruction #1 - The Perfect Human: Cuba
Jacqueline Arenal
The Perfect Woman (segment "Cuba")
Known for
The Marked Heart
Tarde lo conocí
Vivian Rosa
(segment "Cuba")
Also in
Obstruction #1 - The Perfect Human: Cuba
Patrick Bauchau
The Perfect Man / Voice-over (Brussels) / Speaker (Cartoon)
Known for
Carnivàle
Panic Room
Alexandra Vandernoot
The Perfect Woman (segment "Brussels")
Known for
The Dinner Game
Family Business
Marie Dejaer
Maid (segment "Brussels")
Pascal Perez
Couple (Man) (segment "Brussels")
Lars von Trier Director · Jørgen Leth Director Asger Leth Writer
Worldwide gross $279K · United States release May 26, 2004 · Produced in Belgium, Denmark, France, Switzerland
Box office
Worldwide gross
$279,032
Production
Panic Productions
Production
Wajnbrosse Productions
Production
Almaz Film Productions
Production
Zentropa Entertainments
Production
Zentropa Real ApS
Production
Belgium · Denmark · France · Switzerland
Produced in
Languages
Original title
De fem benspænd
Original language
Danish
Spoken on screen
Danish · English · French · Spanish
Release dates
Italy · August 30, 2003
Premiere · Venice Film Festival
Denmark · November 21, 2003
Theatrical
United States · May 26, 2004
Limited theatrical · New York City, New York
United States
January 20, 2004 · Premiere · Sundance Film Festival
April 4, 2004 · Premiere · Wisconsin Film Festival
April 16, 2004 · Premiere · Philadelphia International Film Festival
Canada
September 11, 2003 · Premiere · Toronto International Film Festival
Denmark
November 7, 2003 · Premiere · CPH:DOX
Italy
January 9, 2004 · Theatrical
Japan
February 12, 2011 · Digital
Norway
November 29, 2003 · Premiere · Oslo International Film Festival
June 18, 2004 · Theatrical
Sweden
January 29, 2004 · Premiere · Göteborg Film Festival
United Kingdom
November 7, 2003 · Theatrical
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Some details come from TheTVDB.