Response to 5 Obstructions

In the film Jorgen Leth is challenged by Lars von Trier to make 5 new versions of his iconic film, "The Perfect Human". With each new version Leth must follow a set of obstructions from von Trier. The film is interesting, but there were some key things I noticed. Like I said during our discussion its clear that this film is from the male perspective. The female is nude many times in the film, and is even sexually suggestive when she has on her clothing, while the male isn't nude until there is an animated version. The main thing that bothered me during the film is just how out of touch both of these men seem to be. Von Trier is just on another level of rich out of touch artists, so much that he seems like a jerk. I sort of liked Leth until they went to the red light district and filmed the scene in the car, where he didn’t have any money to give the woman. It’s not that he didn’t have money to give her it’s just that he seemed so out of touch with what their real situation is. I’ve been to Thailand and during our trip we went to the golden triangle, where Burma, Thailand, China, and Laos meet. It has one of the highest drug and sex trafficking rates in the whole world. I know what it feels like to see people in that situation. I had 5-year-old girls carrying their baby siblings asking me for money. I know what it feels like to have your heart broken by those sights. He seemed barely affected by what he saw. It made me judge the rest of his work, with a different view of him. Any type of documentary work always makes me view the artist and their work in a different light.