The Five Obstructions
7.0(179) 2003-11-07 88 minDocumentary
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.
DirectorJørgen Leth
ProducerCarsten Holst
ProducerAnders Jacobsen
DirectorLars von Trier
WriterLars von Trier
AnimationKaty O'Connor
AnimationMike Layne
WriterAsger Leth
Cast & characters
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)
No photo
Majken Algren Nielsen
as The Perfect Woman (from Det perfekte menneske) (archive footage)
No photo
Daniel Hernandez Rodriguez
as The Perfect Man (segment "Cuba")
Jacqueline Arenal
as The Perfect Woman (segment "Cuba")
No photo
Vivian Rosa
as (segment "Cuba")
Patrick Bauchau
as The Perfect Man / Voice-over (Brussels) / Speaker (Cartoon)
Alexandra Vandernoot
as The Perfect Woman (segment "Brussels")
No photo
Marie Dejaer
as Maid (segment "Brussels")
No photo
Pascal Perez
as Couple (Man) (segment "Brussels")
No photo
Meschell Perez
as Couple (Woman) (segment "Brussels")
Bent Christensen
as Gangster (from Det gode og det onde) (segment "Cartoon")
Anders Hove
as Naked Man (from Notater om kærligheden) ( segment "Cartoon")
Charlotte Sieling
as Naked Woman (from Notater om kærligheden) ( segment "Cartoon")
Jan Nowicki
as Man with Jacket (from Notater om kærligheden) ( segment Cartoon)
Stina Ekblad
as Woman with Money (from Notater om kærligheden) (segment Cartoon)
Bob Sabiston
as Self (segment "The Perfect Human: Cartoon") (uncredited)
