In the second half of the '90s two Scandinavian directors made a successful debut that gave rise to an American remake a couple of years later. We are talking about Ole Bornedal ("Nightwatch", 1994) and Erik Skjoldbjærg ("Insomnia", 1997). Till the present day (May 2020) their debut is still the most valued movie for both directors.
"Insomnia" is about a murder case and falls in the detective genre. In modern crime stories the private life and - problems of the detective often play en essential part. Think of the Harry Hole character in the novels of Jo Nesbo. It is however unusual that the original case disappears into the background and that private problems of the detective take over the story completely.
What is special about "Insomnia" is the synchronisation of the inner mood of the main character and the environment he is working in. The detective is tormented by a bad conscience due to a grave mistake he has made (inner mood). At the same time he suffers from the midsummer night with its 24 hours of daylight (external environment). Together these two factors cooperate to deny him any sleep (insomnia).
"Insomnia" is about a murder case and falls in the detective genre. In modern crime stories the private life and - problems of the detective often play en essential part. Think of the Harry Hole character in the novels of Jo Nesbo. It is however unusual that the original case disappears into the background and that private problems of the detective take over the story completely.
What is special about "Insomnia" is the synchronisation of the inner mood of the main character and the environment he is working in. The detective is tormented by a bad conscience due to a grave mistake he has made (inner mood). At the same time he suffers from the midsummer night with its 24 hours of daylight (external environment). Together these two factors cooperate to deny him any sleep (insomnia).