The Five Obstructions

1h 30m · 2003 · Directed by Jørgen Leth, Lars von Trier · 3.7 / 5 on Letterboxd

The Five Obstructions (2003) runs 1h 30m, directed by Jørgen Leth, Lars von Trier. It is one of 3,647 films in the 100 Minute Movies catalog — every one rated 3.0 or higher by Letterboxd members and short enough to finish in an evening.

In 1967, experimental filmmaker Jorgen Leth created a striking short film, The Perfect Human, starring a man and women sitting in a box while a narrator poses questions about their relationship and humanity. Years later, Danish director Lars von Trier made a deal with Leth to remake his film five times, each under a different set of circumstances and with von Trier's strictly prescribed rules. As Leth completes each challenge, von Trier creates increasingly further elaborate stipulations.

Genres: Documentary

No US streaming listed when we last checked (9 July 2026). Availability changes often.