---
title: 'The Five Obstructions (2003)'
type: 'film'
director: 'Lars von Trier'
released: '2003-11-21'
runtime_minutes: 90
genres:
  - 'Documentary'
  - 'Drama'
countries:
  - 'Germany'
  - 'United Kingdom'
  - 'France'
  - 'Netherlands'
  - 'Switzerland'
  - 'Denmark'
canonical: 'https://cinepixo.com/movies/the-five-obstructions-2003'
review_count: 0
imdb: 'https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0354575/'
publisher: 'CinePixo'
---

# The Five Obstructions (2003)

2003 · 90 min · Documentary, Drama · Germany, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark

Original title: De fem benspænd

## Synopsis

The Five Obstructions is a 2003 Danish documentary film directed by Lars von Trier and Jørgen Leth. The film is conceived as a documentary, but incorporates lengthy sections of experimental films produced by the filmmakers. The premise is that Trier has created a challenge for his friend and mentor, Jørgen Leth, another renowned filmmaker. Lars von Trier's favorite film is Leth's The Perfect Human, and Trier gives Leth the task of remaking The Perfect Human five times, each time with a different "obstruction" imposed by Trier.

## Credits

- **Director:** [Lars von Trier](https://cinepixo.com/people/lars-von-trier), [Jørgen Leth](https://cinepixo.com/people/j-rgen-leth)
- **Screenplay:** [Lars von Trier](https://cinepixo.com/people/lars-von-trier), [Jørgen Leth](https://cinepixo.com/people/j-rgen-leth), [Asger Leth](https://cinepixo.com/people/asger-leth)
- **Original Music Composer:** [Henning Christiansen](https://cinepixo.com/people/henning-christiansen)
- **Producer:** [Carsten Holst](https://cinepixo.com/people/carsten-holst)
- **Director of Photography:** [Dan Holmberg](https://cinepixo.com/people/dan-holmberg)
- **Editor:** [Morten Højbjerg](https://cinepixo.com/people/morten-h-jbjerg), [Camilla Skousen](https://cinepixo.com/people/camilla-skousen)

## Cast

- [Patrick Bauchau](https://cinepixo.com/people/patrick-bauchau)
- [Alexandra Vandernoot](https://cinepixo.com/people/alexandra-vandernoot)
- [Stina Ekblad](https://cinepixo.com/people/stina-ekblad)
- [Lars von Trier](https://cinepixo.com/people/lars-von-trier)
- [Jacqueline Arenal](https://cinepixo.com/people/jacqueline-arenal)
- [Jørgen Leth](https://cinepixo.com/people/j-rgen-leth)
- [Claus Nissen](https://cinepixo.com/people/claus-nissen)
- [Jan Nowicki](https://cinepixo.com/people/jan-nowicki)
- [Vivian Rosa](https://cinepixo.com/people/vivian-rosa)
- [Anders Hove](https://cinepixo.com/people/anders-hove)
- [Majken Algren Nielsen](https://cinepixo.com/people/majken-algren-nielsen)
- [Daniel Hernández Rodríguez](https://cinepixo.com/people/daniel-hernandez-rodriguez)

## Criticism on CinePixo

No reviews published yet.

Official site: http://www.films-sans-frontieres.fr/5obstructions/
Source: https://cinepixo.com/movies/the-five-obstructions-2003
Film facts: Wikidata (Q2632905); synopsis from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Reviews, themes and notes are the work of this site's members.