The Five Obstructions (2003)
89%RT Audience Score: 84%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 3 nominations
The Five Obstructions is a fascinating and oftentimes infuriating documentary that delves into the creative process of two filmmakers. Von Trier’s sadistic tendencies are on full display as he challenges his mentor, Leth, to remake his own film under a series of increasingly difficult constraints. The result is a riveting examination of filmmaking that offers a rare fascination for a limited audience. While some may find the project’s humor and purpose elusive, it’s clear that Von Trier and Leth both struggle with issues of depression, making this a brilliant motivation to goad one friend into creative action. Overall, this unique work humanizes the two directors and shows that these two fallible humans are capable of making wonderful, if not perfect, cinematic works.
The Five Obstructions is like watching two filmmakers play a game of creative one-upmanship, and it’s hilarious. Von Trier’s attempts to obstruct Leth’s filmmaking process are both ridiculous and ingenious, and Leth’s ability to rise to the challenge is impressive. It’s like watching a cinematic version of Whose Line Is It Anyway, but with more existential angst. Definitely worth a watch, even if you’re not a die-hard film buff.
Production Company(ies)
Columbia Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Relativity Media,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Unrated
Year of Release
2003
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby SR
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):Danish, English, French, Spanish
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 11, 2003 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 22, 2014
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
Worldwide gross: $279,032
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $452,275
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,759
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 49,321
US/Canada gross: $165,845
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $268,813
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,486
US/Canada opening weekend: $8,940
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $14,491
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,611
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Jørgen Leth – Director
Lars von Trier – Director
Peter Aalbæk Jensen – Executive Producer
Kim Hattesen – Cinematographer
Dan Holmberg – Cinematographer
Director(s)
Jørgen Leth, Lars von Trier
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 3 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (62) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (55) | Rotten (7)
Von Trier’s antic documentary The Five Obstructions…comically reveals the Dogmatist at his torturous worst while tapping into appealing depths of insecurity he’s never allowed himself.
March 16, 2020
Joshua Rothkopf
In These Times
TOP CRITIC
[…]The reason The Five Obstructions lingers as an essential part of von Trier’s filmography […] is because it reveals so much about why von Trier has worked the way he has in the past […]
April 21, 2014 | Rating: 4/5
Noel Murray
The Dissolve
TOP CRITIC
Fascinating (and oft-times infuriating).
May 3, 2005 | Rating: B+
Nick Schager
Lessons of Darkness
TOP CRITIC
Riveting.
October 19, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
A film like this has a limited audience, I suppose, but for that audience it offers a rare fascination.
September 10, 2004 | Rating: 3/4
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
It’s amusing only if you agree not to think very much about it.
September 10, 2004 | Rating: 2/4
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
As much as it is an examination of filmmaking, it’s also a rather brilliant motivation to goad one friend into creative action, for, as we move along through the film, one can assume that Von Trier and Leth both seem to struggle with issues of depression.
November 4, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Nicholas Bell
IONCINEMA.com
Von Trier is rejuvenating his mentor’s imagination. He’s also reminding him that art can ‘catch the conscience’ of the audience and the artist.
November 23, 2011 | Rating: A-
Jeffrey Overstreet
Image
[Leth’s] strength against adversity elevates the movie above the one-sided whipping of a genial man to a more interesting duel of filmmakers. He parries when von Trier thrusts.
June 5, 2008 | Rating: 3.5/5
Robert Davis
Paste Magazine
This unique work does humanise the two directors, but also shows that these two fallible humans are capable of making wonderful if not perfect cinematic works.
April 14, 2005
Boyd van Hoeij
european-films.net
March 5, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Ethan Alter
NYC Film Critic
Somehow the humor and purpose of this project escaped me.
January 19, 2005 | Rating: C+
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews…
Plot
“The Five Obstructions”, a 100 min. Dano-Belgian theatre documentary directed by Lars von Trier and Jørgen Leth. An investigative journey into the phenomenon of “documentary”, based on manifestos written by each director. About a filmmaker not only revisiting, but also recreating (not in a conventional sense) one of his first films, The Perfect Human / Det perfekte menneske (1967), a document on life in Denmark, containing the familiar Leth idiosyncrasies.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film in the Fresh Kernels database.
Jørgen-Leth.jpg
