Director, journalist, author, cycling commentator. Born 14/6 1937, deceased 29/9 2025.
Growing up in Aarhus, Leth spent a lot of time at the local velodrome, where his uncle was manager, and he became fascinated by cycling. In his youth, he was an active cyclist and table-tennis player. Leth studied literature at Aarhus University and ethnography at Copenhagen University.
In 1959, Leth found work as a journalist and critic (jazz and film), and he was also a writer of sports and travel features. He debuted as a poet in 1962 and has since published a number of essays, poetry collections and non-fiction books.
Leth made his first film in 1963, 'Stop for Bud', a documentary portrait of jazz pianist Bud Powell, and he became a central figure on the experimental documentary film scene in the 1960s.
Leth's documentaries are sensuous, personal and distinguished by the director's singular timing and rhythm. As a Danish film critic notes: "Curiosity and a sense of beauty are forces driving Leth's films. With admirable, tenacious consistency he has cultivated his fascination with surfaces."
Leth tends to highlight the mythological and epic aspects of his subjects. This is most apparent in his sports films, including 'Stars and the Water Carriers' (1974) and 'A Sunday in Hell' (1977), about two cycling races, the Giro d'Italia and the Paris-Roubaix spring classic, respectively. For a number of years, Leth also commentated the Tour de France for the Danish broadcaster TV 2.
Films like 'Life in Denmark' (1972) and '66 Scenes from America' (1982) meticulously catalogue people and places, while films such as 'Dancing Bournonville' (1979), 'I Am Alive' (1999) and 'I Am Talking to You' (2013) are lyrical artist's portraits. In 2003, Leth co-directed 'The Five Obstructions' with Lars von Trier. The film presents five remakes of Leth's 1968 classic, 'The Perfect Human'. Apart from documentaries, Leth has made a few fiction films, notably 'Haïti Express' (1983).
Leth himself is portrayed in Tómas Gislason's documentary 'Heart and Soul' (1994) and in Amir Labaki's '27 Scenes about Jørgen Leth' (2009). In 2005, Leth published the first volume of his memoirs, 'The Imperfect Human – Scenes from My Life', spurring heated debate in the Danish media. Leth has since published several more volumes of his memoirs.
Growing up in Aarhus, Leth spent a lot of time at the local velodrome, where his uncle was manager, and he became fascinated by cycling. In his youth, he was an active cyclist and table-tennis player. Leth studied literature at Aarhus University and ethnography at Copenhagen University.
In 1959, Leth found work as a journalist and critic (jazz and film), and he was also a writer of sports and travel features. He debuted as a poet in 1962 and has since published a number of essays, poetry collections and non-fiction books.
Leth made his first film in 1963, 'Stop for Bud', a documentary portrait of jazz pianist Bud Powell, and he became a central figure on the experimental documentary film scene in the 1960s.
Leth's documentaries are sensuous, personal and distinguished by the director's singular timing and rhythm. As a Danish film critic notes: "Curiosity and a sense of beauty are forces driving Leth's films. With admirable, tenacious consistency he has cultivated his fascination with surfaces."
Leth tends to highlight the mythological and epic aspects of his subjects. This is most apparent in his sports films, including 'Stars and the Water Carriers' (1974) and 'A Sunday in Hell' (1977), about two cycling races, the Giro d'Italia and the Paris-Roubaix spring classic, respectively. For a number of years, Leth also commentated the Tour de France for the Danish broadcaster TV 2.
Films like 'Life in Denmark' (1972) and '66 Scenes from America' (1982) meticulously catalogue people and places, while films such as 'Dancing Bournonville' (1979), 'I Am Alive' (1999) and 'I Am Talking to You' (2013) are lyrical artist's portraits. In 2003, Leth co-directed 'The Five Obstructions' with Lars von Trier. The film presents five remakes of Leth's 1968 classic, 'The Perfect Human'. Apart from documentaries, Leth has made a few fiction films, notably 'Haïti Express' (1983).
Leth himself is portrayed in Tómas Gislason's documentary 'Heart and Soul' (1994) and in Amir Labaki's '27 Scenes about Jørgen Leth' (2009). In 2005, Leth published the first volume of his memoirs, 'The Imperfect Human – Scenes from My Life', spurring heated debate in the Danish media. Leth has since published several more volumes of his memoirs.
| Title | Year | Function | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Music for Black Pigeons | 2022 | Direction, Screenplay | DK/Documentary |
| I Walk | 2020 | Direction, Appearance, Archival footage | DK/Documentary |
| The Butler | 2019 | Appearance | DK/Documentary |
| Lyrikporten – 28 danske digtere | 2016 | Direction | DK/Documentary |
| Født til filmen | 2015 | Appearance | DK/Documentary |
| Den hvide mand | 2014 | Voiceover | DK/Experimental |
| Sort sne | 2014 | Voiceover | DK/Experimental |
| Der er ikke andet end det der er | 2014 | Voiceover | DK/Experimental |
| I Am Talking To You | 2013 | Direction, Appearance, Screenplay | DK/Documentary |
| Laamb | 2013 | Narrator | DK/Documentary |
| The Cavalry | 2013 | Appearance | TV series |
| The Erotic Human | 2010 | Direction, Narrator, Screenplay, Cinematographer | DK/Feature |
| Han skal dog dø | 2010 | Appearance | DK/Experimental |
| Klown | 2010 | Sig selv | DK/Feature |
| ABCinema | 2009 | Appearance | DK/Documentary |
| Det meste af tiden | 2009 | Direction, Appearance, Poems | DK/Short fiction |
| Weightless - a Recording Session with Jakob Bro | 2009 | Appearance | DK/Documentary |
| Fiction | 2008 | Appearance | DK/Documentary |
| The yellow jersey | 2008 | Appearance | DK/Documentary |
| Leth om Laudrup | 2008 | Appearance | DK/Documentary |
| Tropical Mix | 2007 | Direction | DK/Experimental |
| ' Monument | 2007 | Direction | DK/Experimental |
| The Jørgen Leth Collection | 2007 | Direction | Anthology |
| Sanselighedens pris | 2007 | Appearance | DK/Documentary |
| Tavi - ånden der steg op fra havet | 2006 | Appearance | DK/Documentary |
| Historien bag kameraet | 2006 | Appearance | TV documentary |
| Aarhus | 2005 | Direction, Appearance, Script | DK/Documentary |
| Ghosts of Cité Soleil | 2005 | Executive producer | DK/Documentary |
| The five obstructions | 2003 | Direction, Script, Himself - Director | DK/Documentary |
| Drømmere | 2002 | Direction, Script | DK/Documentary |
| Nye scener fra Amerika | 2002 | Direction, Script | DK/Documentary |
| Monas verden | 2001 | Rygestemme | DK/Feature |
| Vejen tilbage | 2001 | Consultant | DK/Documentary |
| Jeg er levende - Søren Ulrik Thomsen, digter | 1999 | Direction, Script | DK/Documentary |
| Haiti. Uden titel | 1996 | Direction, Script, Cinematography | DK/Documentary |
| Ra-ra | 1994 | Direction | DK/Documentary |
| Heart and Soul | 1994 | Appearance | DK/Documentary |
| Michael Laudrup: A Football Player | 1993 | Direction, Script | DK/Documentary |
| Traberg | 1992 | Direction, Script | DK/Feature |
| Notes on Love | 1989 | Direction, Script, Production, Appearance | DK/Experimental |
| Dansk litteratur | 1989 | Direction, Script | DK/Documentary |
| Udvalgte ord fra tog | 1989 | Appearance | DK/Documentary |
| As Far As The Eye Can See - Danish Documentaries | 1989 | Appearance | DK/Documentary |
| Notater fra Kina | 1987 | Direction, Voiceover, Script | DK/Documentary |
| Danish Music at The Louisiana | 1987 | Direction | DK/Documentary |
| Moments of Play | 1986 | Direction, Voiceover, Script | DK/Documentary |
| Haiti Express | 1983 | Direction, Script, Dialogue | DK/Feature |
| Pelota | 1983 | Direction, Script | DK/Documentary |
| 66 scener fra Amerika | 1982 | Direction, Appearance | DK/Documentary |
| Gadeartister i New York | 1982 | Direction | DK/Documentary |
| Step on silence | 1981 | Direction, Script | DK/Documentary |
| Peter Martins: A dancer | 1979 | Direction, Voiceover | DK/Documentary |
| At danse Bournonville | 1979 | Direction, Voiceover | DK/Documentary |
| Kalule | 1979 | Direction, Script | DK/Documentary |
| Sanct Hansaften-spil | 1979 | Direction | TV film |
| En forårsdag i helvede | 1977 | Direction, Script, Executive producer | DK/Documentary |
| Good and evil | 1975 | Direction, Script, Production, Production design, Narrator | DK/Experimental |
| Klaus Rifbjerg | 1975 | Direction, Script | DK/Documentary |
| Den umulige time | 1975 | Direction, Voiceover, Script, Production | DK/Documentary |
| Stjernerne og vandbærerne | 1974 | Direction, Voiceover, Script | DK/Documentary |
| Eddy Merckx in the Vicinity of a Cup of Coffee | 1973 | Direction, Appearance, Cinematography | DK/Experimental |
| Life in Denmark | 1972 | Direction, Appearance, Script, Production | DK/Documentary |
| Chinese Ping Pong | 1972 | Direction, Editing | DK/Documentary |
| The Search | 1971 | Direction, Appearance, Idea | DK/Experimental |
| Teatret i de grønne bjerge | 1970 | Direction, Production, Cinematography | DK/Experimental |
| Motion Picture | 1970 | Direction, Script, Production, Editing | DK/Experimental |
| Dyrehaven, den romantiske skov | 1970 | Direction, Script | DK/Documentary |
| Without relations | 1970 | Direction, Script | DK/Experimental |
| Dyrehavefilmen | 1969 | Direction, Cinematography | DK/Experimental |
| Krag-filmen | 1969 | Direction, Cinematography | DK/Experimental |
| Rødovrefilmen | 1969 | Direction | DK/Experimental |
| The Perfect Human | 1968 | Direction, Narrator, Script | DK/Experimental |
| Ofelias blomster | 1968 | Direction, Script | DK/Experimental |
| Nær himlen, nær jorden | 1968 | Direction, Editing, Sound, Voiceover | DK/Documentary |
| Look forward to a time of security | 1965 | Direction, Script, Editing | DK/Experimental |
| Stop for Bud | 1963 | Direction, Script, Production, Editing | DK/Documentary |
| A Conversation with Jørgen Leth | Appearance | Documentary |
