Five Obstructions, The

aka: 5 Obstructions
Denmark 2004, 87 minutes
Dir. Lars Von Trier, Jorgen Leth
In Danish, English, French with English subtitles
Rating: [PG]
Genres: Documentary / Arts & Artists

Topics: Experimental, Showbiz.

Feat. Claus Nissen, Jorgen Leth

Aroview: Arthouse big-shot Lars Von Trier pays off another gambit with what turns out to be a stimulating rumination on the process of film-making and the psychology of art and artists.

Inspired by the Danish 1967 short film, "The Perfect Human", Von Trier proffers a challenge to its revered creator - a not-so-youthful Jorgen Leth - to remake his film in five set pieces using a set of prescribed (yet often random) limitations or 'obstructions'.

Part experiment, part game, part therapy session, the result is a fascinating, unpredictable cinematic hybrid that mulches many facets of the artistic process with the experimental 'art' of both the new and original films. And while it falls a little short of its intended profundity (at least on first viewing), this unique provocation will set curious minds racing, and is bound to be a contagious form of artistic inspiration.

Member Reviews

Average rating (Very Good). Showing 1-1 of 1 member reviews.

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4 stars (Very Good) This film made me want to do several things, and unusually for a von Trier film, they didn't involve violence directed at the mad Dane. Jorgen Leth shows himself to be infinitely patient and brilliantly adept and taking anything von Trier throws at him. ~The Myrka