The Five Obstructions

A classic (and highly entertaining) portrait of the artistic process, this film by Lars von Trier and Jørgen Leth is a documentary—of sorts.  However, it also incorporates lengthy sections of experimental work produced by the filmmakers. von Trier creates a challenge for Leth, his friend and mentor, tasking him with remaking Leth’s own film from 1967, The Perfect Human, von Trier’s favorite film. But Leth must remake it five different times, each time with an increasingly difficult set of “obstructions” (or obstacles) created by von Trier. True to form, Lars von Trier has a bizarre way of showing regard for his mentor.  Together, the two filmmakers create a funny and thought-provoking treatise on artistic discipline, moviemaking, friendship . . . and megalomania.