The Five Obstructions

The Five Obstructions (2003)

De fem benspænd

90 min★ 7.4 · 9,768 votes

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.

Release date
November 21, 2003
Country of origin
Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, France, United Kingdom, Germany
Box office
$279,032

Where to watch

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Streaming data: JustWatch, via TMDB. · See on JustWatch

Trailer

Cast

  • Jørgen Leth as Voice-over (segment: Benspænd #1: Det perfekte menneske, Cuba) (segment: Benspænd #2: Det perfekte menneske, Bombay) (segment: Benspænd #4: Det perfekte menneske, tegnefilm) (segment: Benspænd #5: Det perfekte menneske, Avedøre, Danmark)
  • Lars von Trier as Self / Obstructor (segment "The Conversations")
  • Claus Nissen as The Perfect Man (from Det perfekte menneske) (archive footage)
  • Majken Algren Nielsen as The Perfect Woman (from Det perfekte menneske) (archive footage)
  • Daniel Hernandez Rodriguez as Mand (segment: Benspænd #1: Det perfekte menneske, Cuba)
  • Jacqueline Arenal as Kvinde (segment: Benspænd #1: Det perfekte menneske, Cuba)
  • Vivian Rosa as Kvinde (segment: Benspænd #1: Det perfekte menneske, Cuba)
  • Patrick Bauchau as Voice-over (segment: Benspænd #3: Det perfekte menneske, Bruxelles) (segment: Benspænd #4: Det perfekte menneske, tegnefilm)
  • Alexandra Vandernoot as Kvinde (segment: Benspænd #3: Det perfekte menneske, Bruxelles)
  • Marie Dejaer as Stuepigen (segment: Benspænd #3: Det perfekte menneske, Bruxelles)
  • Meschell Perez as Ektepar - Kvinde (segment: Benspænd #3: Det perfekte menneske, Bruxelles)
  • 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)

Crew