by Yazmin Ghonaim

INSOMNIA Eric Skjoldbjaerg (1997) Personified so fittingly by lead actor Stellan Skarsgard, Swedish police investigator, Jonas Engstrom is the pivoting character from whom the psychological effects of killing emanate unto a world of Insomnia. Solicited by the Norwegian police, who expect him to unveil the mystery behind the murder of a young schoolgirl, Jonas' renowned genius in crime-solving seems to degenerate after commiting a fatal error which costs him the life of his partner, Erik Vik (Sverre Anker Ousdal). This sudden confrontation with death, added to the anguish of a paranoia let loose, leaves the character with just enough sagacity that may earn him his ticket back home. Norwegian director Eric Skjoldbjaerg plays with the notion of a new "film blanc" (as opposed to film noir), as he defines a new style in terms of the use of excess light (as opposed to the low-key lighting characteristic of the urban American, post WWII genre). Insomnia is rich in visual metaphoric expression that seems to exteriorize the main character's interior sense of loneliness. Written by Nikolaj Frobenius, the film was critically acclaimed at the Cannes Film Festival.		DVD Music Books Search by keywords:
Outstanding Features: Acting, Character Development, Lighting Insomnia Movie Review © 1997 Cinephiles - All rights reserved.