Fem benspænd, De 2003

John Hartl, Seattle Times: The relationship between the two filmmakers raises it above the category of academic experiment. Von Trier brings a diabolical glee to his role, and Leth matches it with an older, wiser brand of mischief. Read more

Bob Longino, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: For those who treasure not only watching the intricate challenges of filmmaking but also feeling the thrill of tomfoolery and sharing the demonic joy of psychological twists, Obstructions is enthralling. Read more

Wesley Morris, Boston Globe: Part of what hooks you to this movie is how Leth outsmarts his taskmaster, and how the two men have divergent, almost incompatible aesthetic ideals. Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: In only 90 minutes it encourages you to reexamine the nature of cinema, the sources of creativity, the unexpected joys of the unanticipated moment. And it couldn't be more fun to watch. Read more

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader: It's amusing only if you agree not to think very much about it. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: A movie that's so eager and playful and inspired that it made me a von Trier believer again. Read more

Scott Foundas, L.A. Weekly: Offers us the five finished films as well as a record of their making, and from its very first frames it exerts a powerful fascination. Read more

John Anderson, Newsday: Leth leaves the viewer both exhilarated and maybe even optimistic about the capacity of human intelligence and creativity. Read more

Lisa Rose, Newark Star-Ledger: It's a game of cinematic Survivor that takes on broader meaning, exploring film as a mode of self-expression and the latent insecurity that drives artists to deliver works of greatness. Read more

Andrew Sarris, New York Observer: A special auteurist treat that's easier to enjoy than to describe or categorize. Read more

A.O. Scott, New York Times: Watching The Five Obstructions is at once like witnessing two chess masters playing dominoes and like spying on a series of therapy sessions. Read more

Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: Becomes most interesting when we see how a veteran filmmaker reacts to gauntlets thrown down by a star student, and meets those challenges. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: A film like this has a limited audience, I suppose, but for that audience it offers a rare fascination. Read more

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Read more

Time Out: Read more

David Stratton, Variety: Read more

J. Hoberman, Village Voice: An essay on art as a matter of solving problems posed by a capricious deity -- that is, an expose of von Trier's own method, both of making a movie and directing actors. Read more