Critical Writing Index

Leth is More: James Quandt on The Five Obstructions

by James Quandt

Artforum, Mar. 2004, v. 42, no. 9, p. 64

This article examines the Oedipal and masochistic undertones of Lars von Trier and Jørgen Leth's The Five Obstructions; a film in which von Trier challenges his former professor (Leth) to remake his film The Perfect Human five times, each time faced with a different (and increasingly difficult) obstacle meant to challenge Leth's artistic sensibility and ideals.

ITEM 2004.125 – available for viewing in the Research Centre

Videos, Artworks and Artists Cited

The Five ObstructionsLars von Trier

The Five ObstructionsJørgen Leth

The Perfect HumanJørgen Leth