Friday, 17 October 2014

THE FIVE OBSTRUCTIONS

Is a Danish documentary film (2003) made by Lars Von Trier and Jørgen Leth. In this film, Lars Von Trier gives Leth the task of remaking The Perfect Human (1967) five times, each time with different obstructions.

The original film:

1st Obstruction 
  • To be filmed in Cuba and no set is allowed
  • No shot must be longer than 12 frames
  • Answer the question posed in the original film


Leth finds this obstruction to be a curse. From my point of view I see it as an advantage of being creative (What doesn't kill you makes you stronger). The film he made was interesting. It felt like stop motion animation.  

2nd Obstruction 
  • To film in a miserable place and not show it in the background 
  • Leth to take on the role as the perfect human 
  • The meal scene without the woman


Even though Leth was told not to include the background of the location, he showed it through a transparent screen. I see this as a true reflection of himself and not the idea. The effect added something more to the film, both physically and emotionally. The scene where Leth is eating the meal with all the people standing behind him creates questions. The film narrator goes on to say "here's the perfect human eating". But as a viewer I did not see the perfectness as you could see people in the background and the perfect human eating by himself. It created a meaning of greediness and reminded me how lucky I am. This has influenced me to think about my background when filming as might create a different meaning to what I want to present.

3rd Obstruction 
  • Complete freedom in the making of the film or go back to Bombay and re shoot. 


He refused to go back to Bombay and filmed it in Brussels. This version is modern and I like the techniques he use (split screen). The scene I liked the most was when the woman talks into the camera. She's breaking the fourth wall and it felt as if I was the perfect human, who had the desires mentioned within the film. I like this technique and its a good way to get the audiences attention. 

4th Obstruction 
  • To make the film into a cartoon


I like the colours within the cartoon and he didn't make into a cheesy / comedian cartoon. It had the themes of the first 3 obstructions he had made before this and included some shots from the original film as well. 

5th Obstruction 
  • Lars will make the film
  • Leth will be credited & will do the voice over for the script


The last version of the film is more personal. This is between Lars and Leth and their great friendship between the two film-makers. 

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