De fem benspænd (2003)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Jørgen Leth
(more)

Writers:

Jørgen Leth (2 segments)
Sophie Destin (poem) (segment "The Perfect Human: Brussels")
(more)

Release Date:

7 November 2003 (UK)

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

About a filmmaker not only revisiting, but also recreating (not in a conventional sense) one of his first films, The Perfect Human / Det perfekte menneske (1967)

Plot Keywords:

Director | Filmmaking | Remake | Experimental Film | Part Animated

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Claus Nissen	...	The Perfect Man - from 'Det perfekte menneske' 1967 (archive footage)
Majken Algren Nielsen	...	The Perfect Woman, from 'Det perfekte menneske' 1967) (archive footage) (as Maiken Algren)
Jørgen Leth	...	Speaker (from "Det perfekte menneske" 1967) / Himself - Director (segments "The Conversations") / Speaker (segment "Obstruction #1 - The Perfect Human: Cuba") / The Perfect Man / Speaker (segment "Obstruction #2 - The Perfect Human: Bombay") / Speaker (segment "Obstruction #4 - The Perfect Human: Cartoon") / Jørgen Leth / The Perfect Human / Speaker (segment "Obstruction #5 - The Perfect Human: Avedøre, Denmark") (also archive footage)
Lars von Trier	...	Himself - Obstructor (segments "The Conversations") / Lars von Trier (segment "Obstruction #5 - The Perfect Human: Avedøre, Denmark")
Daniel Hernandez Rodriguez	...	The Perfect Man (segment "Obstruction #1 - The Perfect Human: Cuba")
Jacqueline Arenal	...	The Perfect Woman (segment "Obstruction #1 - The Perfect Human: Cuba")
Vivian Rosa
Alexandra Vandernoot	...	The Perfect Woman (segment "Obstruction #3 - The Perfect Human: Brussels")
Patrick Bauchau	...	The Perfect Man / Speaker (segment "Obstruction #3 - The Perfect Human: Brussels") / Speaker (segment "Obstruction #4 - The Perfect Human: Cartoon")
Marie Dejaer	...	Maid (segment "Obstruction #3 - The Perfect Human: Brussels")
Pascal Perez	...	Couple (Man) (segment "Obstruction #3 - The Perfect Human: Brussels")
Meschell Perez	...	Couple (Woman) (segment "Obstruction #3 - The Perfect Human: Brussels")
Bent Christensen	...	Gangster from "Det gode og det onde" 1975 featured in segment "Obstruction #4 - The Perfect Human: Cartoon" (archive footage)
Anders Hove	...	Naked Man, from "Notater om kærligheden" 1989 featured in segment "Obstruction #4 - The Perfect Human: Cartoon" (archive footage)
Charlotte Sieling	...	Naked Woman - from "Notater om kærligheden" 1989 featured in segment "Obstruction #4 - The Perfect Human: Cartoon" (archive footage)
Jan Nowicki	...	Man with jacket, from "Notater om kærligheden" 1989 featured in segment "Obstruction #4 - The Perfect Human (archive footage)
Stina Ekblad	...	Woman with money, from "Notater om kærligheden" 1989 featured in segment "Obstruction #4 - The Perfect Human (archive footage)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bob Sabiston	...	Himself (uncredited)

Directed by
Jørgen Leth		(segment "The Perfect Human: Avedøre, Denmark") (credit only) (segment "The Perfect Human: Bombay") (segment "The Perfect Human: Brussels") (segment "The Perfect Human: Cartoon") (segment "The Perfect Human: Cuba")
Lars von Trier		(segment "The Perfect Human: Avedøre, Denmark") (uncredited)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Sophie Destin		poem "La Femme" (segment "The Perfect Human: Brussels")
Asger Leth		writer (segment "The Perfect Human: Brussels")
Jørgen Leth		film "Det perfekte menneske"
Jørgen Leth		segment "The Perfect Human: Bombay" (uncredited)
Jørgen Leth		segment "The Perfect Human: Brussels"
Jørgen Leth		segment "The Perfect Human: Cartoon"
Jørgen Leth		segment "The Perfect Human: Cuba" (uncredited)
Lars von Trier		idea
Lars von Trier		segment "The Perfect Human: Avedøre, Denmark"

Produced by
Signe Birket-Smith	....	assistant producer
Marianne Christensen	....	line producer
Carsten Holst	....	producer
Anders Jacobsen	....	assistant line producer (segment "The Perfect Human: Cuba")
Peter Aalbæk Jensen	....	executive producer
Nicole Mora	....	co-executive producer
Gerald Morin	....	co-executive producer
Marc-Henri Wajnberg	....	co-executive producer
Marc-Henri Wajnberg	....	delegate producer (segment "The Perfect Human: Brussels") (segment "The Perfect Human: Cartoon")
Vibeke Windeløv	....	executive producer

Cinematography by
Kim Hattesen
Dan Holmberg

Film Editing by
Daniel Dencik
Morten Højbjerg
Camilla Skousen

Casting by
Marianne Christensen		(segment "The Perfect Human: Cuba")
Magdalena García		(segment "The Perfect Human: Cuba")

Makeup Department
Juan Pacífico	....	hair stylist (segment "The Perfect Human: Brussels")
Lisa Schonker	....	makeup artist (segment "The Perfect Human: Brussels")

Production Management
Anne Katrine Andersen	....	post-production manager
Mette Høst Hansen	....	post-production manager
Tom Heene	....	production manager (segment "The Perfect Human: Brussels")
Pia Nielsen	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Asger Leth	....	first assistant director
Asger Leth	....	second unit director

Art Department
Michel Vinck	....	props researcher: Amalgames (segment "The Perfect Human: Brussels")

Sound Department
Martin Saabye Andersen	....	sound engineer (segment "The Perfect Human: Cuba")
Morten Bøttzauw	....	sound engineer (segments "The Conversations")
Jens de Place Bjørn	....	sound engineer (segment "The Conversations")
Paul Heymans	....	sound engineer (segment "The Perfect Human: Brussels") (segment "The Perfect Human: Cartoon")
Jan Juhler	....	sound engineer (segment "The Perfect Human: Bombay")
Tom Koester	....	sound engineer (segment "The Perfect Human: Cartoon")
Hans Møller	....	sound design: Mainstream ApS
Kasper Munck-Hansen	....	sound engineer (segment "The Conversations")

Camera and Electrical Department
Jakob Bonfils	....	director of photography: third unit (segments "The Conversations")
Manuel Dacosse	....	assistant director of photography (segment "The Perfect Human: Brussels")
Kim Hattesen	....	director of photography: third unit (segments "The Conversations")
Asger Leth	....	director of photography: second unit
Adam Philp	....	assistant director of photography
Adam Philp	....	second director of photography (segment "The Perfect Human: Brussels")
François Zeegers	....	gaffer (segment "The Perfect Human: Brussels")

Animation Department
Randy Cole	....	animator (segment "The Perfect Human: Cartoon")
Jennifer Drummond	....	animator (segment "The Perfect Human: Cartoon")
Holly Fisher	....	animator (segment "The Perfect Human: Cartoon")
Mike Layne	....	animator (segment "The Perfect Human: Cartoon") (as Michael Layne)
Katy O'Connor	....	animator (segment "The Perfect Human: Cartoon")
Bob Sabiston	....	animation director (segment "The Perfect Human: Cartoon")
Bob Sabiston	....	animator (segment "The Perfect Human: Cartoon")
Susan Sabiston	....	animator (segment "The Perfect Human: Cartoon")
Patrick Thornton	....	animator (segment "The Perfect Human: Cartoon")

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Elisabeth Houtart	....	stylist: Amalgames (segment "The Perfect Human: Brussels") (as Elisabeth Houtard)

Editorial Department
Marlene Billie Andreasen	....	on-line editor: post-production
Thomas Caspersen	....	digital film recordist: post-production
Lars Dela	....	technical consultant: post-production
Christine Ekstrand	....	post-production assistant
Simon Kristiansen	....	avid assistant: post-production
Lasse Martinussen	....	avid assistant: post-production
Fabien Pascal	....	color timer: post-production
Thomas Therchilsen	....	digital color grader: post-production
Anne Katrine Andersen	....	post-production coordinator (uncredited)
Michael Frank Nielsen	....	film color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
Mikkel Maltha	....	music consultant: Zentropa Music ApS
Anders Valbro	....	music consultant: Zentropa Music ApS

Transportation Department
José Luis Figueroa	....	production driver (segment "The Perfect Human: Cuba")

Other crew
Suhas Bhiwandkar	....	production coordinator (segment "The Perfect Human: Bombay")
Majken Bramstrup	....	production assistant: Zentropa Real
Floyd E. Casper	....	production coordinator (segment "The Perfect Human: Bombay")
Rasmus Christoffersen	....	production assistant: Zentropa Real
Isabelle Corlier	....	production assistant: Wajnbrosse (segment "The Perfect Human: Brussels")
Delphine Coterel	....	location manager (segment "The Perfect Human: Brussels")
Veronique Durand	....	film laboratory: Eclair Laboratoires, France
Marie-Aude Goddard	....	production assistant (segment "The Perfect Human: Brussels")
Javier Gonzales	....	production coordinator (segment "The Perfect Human: Cuba")
Jesper Grüner	....	production assistant: Zentropa Real
Olivier Heger	....	production insurance (segment "The Perfect Human: Brussels")
Asger Leth	....	cartoon consultant (segment "The Perfect Human: Cartoon")
Stefan Maenen	....	runner (segment "The Perfect Human: Brussels")
Melanie Munt	....	body double (segment "Obstruction #3 - The Perfect Human: Brussels")
Mairead O'Leary	....	production assistant: Wajnbrosse (segment "The Perfect Human: Brussels")
Nina Munch Petersen	....	personal assistant: Carsten Holst
Cecile Piot	....	film laboratory: Eclair Laboratoires, France
Deepak Rao	....	production coordinator (segment "The Perfect Human: Bombay")
Jordan Savel	....	production assistant: Zentropa Real
Thomas Schindel	....	personal assistant: Lars von Trier
Manka Sierakowski	....	production assistant: Wajnbrosse (segment "The Perfect Human: Brussels")
Johanne Stainer	....	production coordinator (segment "The Perfect Human: Brussels")
Rogier Van Eck	....	production assistant: Wajnbrosse (segment "The Perfect Human: Brussels")

Production Companies

• Almaz Film Productions S.A.
• Panic Productions
• Wajnbrosse Productions
• Zentropa Real ApS

Distributors

• Trust Film Sales (2003) (worldwide) (all media) (sales)
• Arsenal (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Bir Film (2004) (Turkey) (theatrical)
• Bright Angel Distribution (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Frenetic Films (2004) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Kino Bez Granits (2005) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Nordisk Film Biografdistribution (2003) (Denmark) (theatrical)
• esse&bi cinematografica distribuzione (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Alfa Films (2005) (Argentina) (all media)
• Arsenal (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Divisa Home Video (2004) (Spain) (DVD)
• Films sans Frontières (France)
• Koch Lorber Films (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Koch Lorber Films (2004) (USA) (subtitled)
• Madman Entertainment (2006) (Australia) (all media)
• Madman Entertainment (2006) (New Zealand) (all media)
• Sundance Channel (USA) (TV)
• Total Film Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Gearless ApS

Other Companies

• Danmarks Radio (DR)  financing
• Det Danske Filminstitut  financing
• Flat Black Films  animation produced by (segment "The Perfect Human: Cartoon")
• Klippegangen ApS  post-production facilities
• Rekorder ApS  video transfer to 35 mm
• Triangle 7  sound equipment (segment "The Perfect Human: Brussels")
• Ze Light  light equipment (segment "The Perfect Human: Brussels")

Also Known As:

Five Obstructions (France)
The Five Obstructions (International: English title)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

Denmark | Switzerland | Belgium | France

Language:

Danish | English | French | Spanish

Color:

Black and White (archive footage) | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Switzerland:16 (canton of Zurich) | Australia:M | Hungary:14 | Norway:A | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:13 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:Unrated | Argentina:13

Company:

Almaz Film Productions S.A.

Trivia:

During one of the conversation segments in the documentary Lars von Trier and Jørgen Leth agree that Leth will receive full credit for the fifth and final Obstruction entitled "The Perfect Human: Avedøre, Denmark" despite not directing it, and that Trier will receive none, although he will direct it. This, apparently, is within the rules of the game played out by the two directors during the documentary, and serves as an inside joke.

Movie Connections:

References La collectionneuse (1967)

Eat your heart out "reality" television!

After watching this film all I could think about was how I would love to take this premise and use it on some of America's finest directors. Money, power, and wealth. These are just some of the elements that you gain by having a blockbuster film, but can you take your pride and joy and transform it into different avenues while still keeping the overall tone the same? It is a tough question, one that I wonder if our American directors could accomplish. I wonder if Peter Jackson, Spielberg, or Lucas could take their prized collections and still have the creative mind to make the same film with some 'obstructions'? My initial answer would be 'no', but I wouldn't mind seeing them try.

This film was brilliant to say the least. I went into it without really knowing anything about Jorgen Leth, and finished wanting to see more of his work. I was impressed with his original film The Perfect Human and thought that his four remakes were nothing short of outstanding. Each one was perfect in its own right and yet somehow was able to continue the overall themes and elements. They were works of a genius. This leads me to another question I had while watching this film. Did Trier know that Leth could do this? Trier was once a student of Leth and considers him to be the best director our there, he must have known that Leth could accomplish such tasks. In fact, I think this may have been Trier's way of allowing a new generation to experience the brilliant mind of Leth. Trier pushed Leth to new levels, but I think in a way he knew that Leth would be able to overcome and provide some new and beautiful shots. Trier seemed like a very hard nosed person in this film, and that he constantly ordered, instead of asking his subject to do things. I think we witnessed Trier in his original form. Kidman has reported as saying that Trier is very difficult to work for and I think it is because of the way that Trier works. Very similar to Gilliam, Trier has the vision in his mind. He knows how he wants the scene to play out, and unless it works just as much as it did in his mind, he will not be happy. Why not? It is his film. Some actors and others in the business call it insanity, but I think it is the talent of a beautiful director. That is why I am a fan of both Trier and Gilliam, and now Leth.

While it is interesting to see these two directors work against and for each other, the ultimate enjoyment is the different renditions of The Perfect Human. Giving a director the tasks that Trier did may force some of the themes and elements of original short to be lost in the shuffle; Leth never allows that to happen. It is amazing to see the similarities, yet subtle differences between the original and the new. Each of them work and give such a intense new spin on the story. Within all of this we begin to see the themes leaving the work, and coming straight at these directors. Trier is trying to show that Leth is just as human and emotional as the subject in his film. In fact, Trier even shows that Leth is as human and emotional as himself. They way this is shown is very subtle, but it is there. We are working with two different filmmakers. One is young and a very prominent name in cinema, while the other is aging and as generations continues to gap, losing followers to his film. Trier wanted, and does, show that there is little difference between himself and Leth. They are both humans. They are both full of emotion.

My favorite scene was when Trier mentions to Leth that he wants Leth to feel like a 'tortoise on his back'. He wants Leth to experience hardship and struggle, perhaps even frustration, and therefore Trier gives him the cartoon obstruction. In a very mocking fashion, Leth happens to put a tortoise in the film. The ball is in your court, von Trier.

Overall, this is an amazing film. I am an enormous fan of short films, and to see little snippets of Leth's mind was exciting and revolutionary. I recommend this film to anyone that is fed up with the lack of creativity in the 'reality' based television series and long for something more artistic. This film reminded me of walking through an art museum and seeing several works from Leth. It is a place I would never want to leave.

Grade: ***** out of *****