The Five Obstructions is a 2003
Danish documentary film directed by
Lars von Trier and
Jørgen Leth. The film is conceived as a documentary, but incorporates lengthy sections of
experimental films produced by the filmmakers. The premise is that von Trier has created a challenge for his friend and mentor, Jørgen Leth, another renowned filmmaker. von Trier's favorite film is Leth's
The Perfect Human (
1967), and von Trier gives Leth the task of
remaking The Perfect Human five times, each time with a different "obstruction" (or obstacle) imposed by von Trier.