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Article: Insane in the Dane Brain; Lars von Trier Tries to Destroy the Perfect Film
- Article from:
- The Stranger
- Article date:
- July 15, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright The Stranger Jul 15-Jul 21, 2004. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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THE FIVE OBSTRUCTIONS is not for everyone; it may, in fact, be intended for no one. As a film, it's little more than artistic therapy--a fit bordering on outright masturbation, with two directors digging through the often unbearably turgid soil of film theory. It is also, surprisingly, a fascinating fit to watch unfold, perhaps even one of the best documentaries about the madness of filmmaking you're likely to encounter.
The idea is a great one. Director Lars von Trier, obsessed with a 12-minute film entitled The Perfect Human that his friend and former mentor Jorgen Leth created in 1967, issues a challenge to his fellow director: Remake the film five times, each time with a new set of ...