The Five Obstructions (2003) is a Danish documentary directed by Lars von Trier and Jørgen Leth. Inspired by Leth’s 1968 short movie The Perfect Human, von Trier decides to test his fellow director’s skills by setting a series of challenges. Leth is asked to remake The Perfect Human but with a series of imposed limitations or obstructions. Firstly, he has to remake his film in Cuba with not shot lasting more than twelve frames. Secondly he must remake his film in ‘the worst place in the world’. Thirdly he must remake the film ‘in any way he chooses’ (a surprisingly difficult challenge). Fourthly he must remake the film as a cartoon. Finally, in a twist, Leth is made to read a voiceover scripted by von Trier over a remake that von Trier has made himself.

The film offers two pleasures. Firstly, there is a pleasure of seeing the original film interpreted in different ways – I wasn’t familiar with The Perfect Human, but the nature of The Five Obstructions meant that I felt like I have the opportunity to fully explore the movie. Secondly, there is a pleasure in watching the two directors play against each other. There is a wicked perversity in von Trier’s ‘tortures’ and a stoic acceptance in Leth’s attempts to fulfil them.

Of the challenges themselves, the results are fascinating. The second challenge highlights the poverty of a district of Mumbai whilst also playing with the notion of the embarrassment of being privileged. Not an easy thing to watch. The first and fourth challenges, by contrast, demonstrate Leth’s skills as a filmmaker and storyteller – using the purity of the script and of the technique of editing to relay a similar but twisted version of his original film.

It’s a great meditation on filmmaking, on the difficulties of creative development, and on the playful and sadistic approach of von Trier to his profession.