Insomnia (1997)

One of the most popular sources of ideas for Hollywood films in recent years has been foreign film industries, with a critically acclaimed foreign film often being remade into a Hollywood blockbuster. The remake is not always a success but the fact that it has been remade is usually an indication that the original film was quite good. Norwegian drama Insomnia is one such recipient of a remake – recently being turned into an Al Pacino/Robin Williams film directed by Memento’s Christopher Nolan.

The setting for the original film is the far North of Norway, the 'land of the midnight sun' where, during the summer, the sun never sets for several months in a row. Swedish policeman Jonas Engstrom (Stellan Skarsgard) and his partner Erik Vik (Sverre Anker Ousdal) are called in to investigate the brutal murder of a teenage girl named Tanja (Maria Mathiesen). They soon find that the killer cleared up after himself meticulously, but the discovery of Tanja's bag allows the police to set a trap for the murderer. Unfortunately, a combination of heavy fog and an unmarked escape route allow the killer to escape, but not before Jonas has accidentally shot his partner – mistakenly believing him to be the killer in the heavy fog. Jonas panics and claims the murderer fired the shot, but problems arise when Jonas gets a lead to the killer's identity only to find the murderer blackmailing him.

The title of the film refers to the fact that Jonas suffers from insomnia, and is unable to sleep in the constant sunlight. As the days go by he gets increasingly irrational due to his inability to sleep, eventually starting to see visions of his dead partner. Although he initially seems like a decent person, his behaviour deteriorates as the film goes on and the effects of the insomnia get more pronounced. It is never entirely clear whether his behaviour is purely a result of his sleeplessness or if he is naturally weak willed – either way it often appears he is making things unnecessarily complicated for himself.

Although it is quite a low budget film the direction is quite skillful, with a perpetually uneasy atmosphere and some innovative editing in the few action scenes. The effects are heightened by a melancholy soundtrack.

The film generally lacks tension or mystery – the identity of the murderer it revealed early on – but solving the crime isn't really the point here. Instead, this is an in-depth study of how a flawed character can fall apart under pressure. The other characters are reasonably interesting, although the villain seems a bit of a cliche in some respects.

In summary, an effective character-driven film with a haunting atmosphere.

Rating : 7 / 10

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All content ©2003 William Marnoch.

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