De fem benspænd (2003)

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 Le genou de Claire (1970)

This is how the perfect human falls

Debuting at the Toronto International Film Festival 2003 The Five Obstructions is a whimsical yet deeply philosophical dialogue between Lars Van Trier and Jørgen Leth, one of Lars Van Trier's director heroes.

The movie is based upon the reconstruction of Leth's 1967 work The Perfect Human ( De Fem benspænd ). This 1967 black and white film is starkly minimalist and humourous detailing a Danish point of view - an analysis of a perfect human and how the perfect human acts and interacts with the world. Within the film are two characters : a man and a woman each shot separately and each probed by the camera. How the perfect human eats. How the perfect human lies down. How he falls. This is the human eye. This is the perfect human's ear, eye, knee.

The Perfect Human is the perfect film.

The dialogue between Leth and Van Trier shot in the year 2001 is humourous and philosophical. Van Trier sets out to challenge Leth by making his recreate The Perfect Human but under Van Trier's terms.

The first obstruction for instance is to have shots with no more than 12 frames each, it has to be shot in Cuba and with no set. The audience laughs as each point of the obstruction is set upon the screen.

The camera crew follows Leth around the world and records his reactions to the challenge and the process of how he sets to film the First Obstructions in Cuba. He finds the concept of 12 frames monumentously crazy. He has to find the perfect humans to cast in the country, a country he has never been to. He comes back to Denmark and they view the result: an exquisite little film which is surprising and beautiful.

The rest of the film poses the rest of the Five Obstructions - each a result of Van Trier's subsequent reactions to the films that Leth brings back.

The conversation between the two is akin to a psychoanalyst and his patient yet the two are friends. There is much laughter and delight and the results of the five obstructions are pristinely beautiful. You also get to see Van Trier's ego at work and the wheels spinning as Leth responds to the challenge. The overall film of The Five Obstructions in itself is a delight and a learning experience that should not be missed.