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Plot:
Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier, a leader in the Dogme 95 movement (which eschewed artificial lighting and props and promoted digital video), is legendary for his one-of-a-kind approach to moviemaking...( read more 
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Recent Reviews
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MCT:July 1, 2008A brilliant and brave documentary. At times quite tense, but always entertaining.
A great examination of creativity and film making. -
MCT:June 30, 2008
A documentary about creativity inspired by obstacles, how rules and "Dogma can produce new ideas, in those with drive and imagination. As well written and emotionally engaging as any of Von Trier's feature films. One of the most unique and effective documentaries ever made.
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MCT:June 24, 2008
This is what happens when avant guarde filmmakers are let out to play! It's helpful to look up Leth's 'The Perfect Human' before you view this skewed version (if you have the DVD, the original should come included with your extra features.) It's fascinating to watch von Trier tease and annoy and push Leth into the challenges, and see the results Leth gives. I don't know how much of it was actually scripted, but assume that it wasn't and enjoy. It's worth turning on the commentary feature afterward.
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MCT:April 15, 2008Lars von Trier, according to himself in The Five Obstructions, considers himself an expert on few things. One of them is Jorgen Leth. And that is probably why the two got together to make this part documentary, part experimental film. The concept is that von Trier will watch Jorgen Leth's seminal experimental film, "The Perfect Human," and then von Trier will dictate Leth in five remakes of the film. Each one will have different rules that Leth must comply with. One must include no shot longer than 12 frams, be set in Cuba, and answer the questions asked in the original film. Etc., etc. The film is an interesting experiment in every way. We see von Trier and Leth's meetings, discussing the obstructions. There is a lot of wit and dry humor concealed in these portions of the film. Then we watch Leth struggle to remake his film under von Trier's guidelines, seeing the journey of a filmmaker dedicated to one thing and one thing only. In fact I feel we miss out on a lot of Leth's personality in the film's complete and direct approach to capturing his filmmaking. Then we watch the films he has produced. Repeat. And here's where the Five Obstructions begins to fail... it's a bit boring. Exciting concept, exciting resulting films, but to watch each one unfurl becomes a bit reptitive and dull as the movie drags on. The surprise at the end is that the fifth obstruction is actually to be made by von Trier, about Leth, and it's a personal and touching moment to be sure. But von Trier's overwhelming pretentiousness infects every bit of what he does, sometimes to a negative effect, and the fifth obstruction is no exception.. Five Obstructions is a wonderful experiment, with mixed results.
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MCT:April 2, 2008
This film is about humility - how far is an artist willing to go for his art? Trier comes up with the interesting idea of challenging the artist, in this case Jorgen Leth, by making him face his own fears through recreating his masterpiece under ridiculous conditions. Seemingly comical at first, it's not long before we realise there's nothing funny about what Trier's attempting to do as he pushes Leth almost to breaking point. The viewer's head is left spinning when Trier ultimately reveals that the film was never really about Leth but rather about Trier's struggle at finding his own humility.
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MCT:March 19, 2008I noted the time I stopped watching this: 45 minutes into the film. Holy Hannah, it goes on for another 45 minutes according to the jacket. I've spent a long 45 minutes many times in my life. A few oral surgeries come to mind. And only halfway there. Watching the entire thing would be the equivalent of surviving botched oral surgery, with ensuing complications even. I quote the entire Netflix blurb, the one that suckered idiot me in:
Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier, a leader in the Dogme 95 movement (which eschewed artificial lighting and props and promoted digital video), is legendary for his one-of-a-kind approach to moviemaking and the memorable fruits of his labors. In this collaboration with fellow director Jorgen Leth, von Trier challenges Leth to remake his 1967 movie The Perfect Human and documents the entire process, allowing viewers to see two geniuses at work.
Allowing? Allowing! Oh, mahalo nui loa for the crumbs. Flixster friends, I would call your attention to the word "geniuses." Now I know I'm not a smart man. Perfect proof of this fact is that I often make the stupid assumption that when someone uses a word, say a word like "genius" or "geniuses," that this use of the word somehow matches my own idea of what the word means. In this case, I am disappointed in my clueless assumption yet again. I am not watching my idea of geniuses at work here. What I am watching is two very self-absorbed guys, who aren't geniuses in my universe, playing an irritating game, and that game is boring me to death. If only one of them would pull out a gun and introduce the ultimate obstruction -- killing the other one so the pain/film would end abruptly -- like unexpectedly opening the door so that the string goes taught in surprise and pulls the tooth out instantly, when you least expect it. A move like that would be pure genius in my personal dictionary.
Walter, if you haven't already guessed it, I have another winner for our little list.
Even worse, I'm particularly po'd right this minute because, in wasting time watching this piece of cruft, I just realized I've missed two-thirds of a two-hour documentary on Thelonius Monk. Dare I say, a "genius" in my book. Borat this borating movie.
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MCT:December 24, 2007
This is based on an awesome short film which they include in the bonus features. Rent this to see the short.
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MCT:September 19, 2007
A documentary by Danish filmmaker Lars Von Trier about his teacher Jorgen Leth. The documentary takes us back to a classic experimental short film by Jorgen Leth called The Perfect Human. The Perfect Human was made in 1967 and is a very odd short film that you may not understand or appreciate until you watch this documentary. In the documentary, student Lars Von Trier challenges his teacher and mentor Jorgen Leth to remake The Perfect Human 5 times (only 4 actually) with some obstructions (hence the name of the film). Lars comes up with some very creative challenges that seem impossible and yet Jorgen makes them look easy. The implicit message in this documentary is Lars Von Trier showing his admiration for his mentor Jorgen Leth and describing him as the perfect human. A very creative documentary that you shouldn't miss, you will learn a lot of different filming techniques.
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MCT:September 5, 2007
An experimental Danish film by none other than Lars Von Trier. He appears to be in his prime. With the help of Jorgen Leth, they have made an art flm that would make Godard proud. Philosophical, funny, terrifically inventive and surprisingly touching.
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MCT:April 27, 2007
Wicked fun for filmmakers... and simultaneously hard to watch. The only Von Trier film I've been able to convince myself to sit through (to date).
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MCT:March 14, 2007
Great documentary by Lars Von Trier as he tortures a fellow filmmaker Jorgen Leth into remaking his classic short 'The perfect human' five times under different circumstances. Revealing!
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MCT:November 21, 2006
a film with film makers as actors for a change ...
one directing the other withouth his knowing .. and actually being directed himself .. its nice -
MCT:November 8, 2006
Increadibly inspirational. For anyone who needs a rush of creativity, look to Leth's journey and enjoy his amazing fushions of art.
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MCT:September 12, 2006Pretty damn interesting, but it can drag a bit. I fast forwarded through a lot of it, but the films this guy comes up with to beat the challenge of the obstructions is pretty amazing.
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MCT:June 29, 2006
Sobre los infinitos recursos de un buen cineasta, te adentra a los procesos creativos de una produccion, en este caso, muy pequeña, algo lenta pero logra su cometido
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