Insomnia (1997)

this is an excellent psychological drama about a cooly repressed detective unable to own up to causing the accidental death of his partner, at the same time he is pursuing an author suspected of killing his young girlfriend. The detective story isn't important here - the detective has no trouble locating the killer, understanding his motives, or "solving" the crime. What is interesting is the detective's inability to deal with his problems and face life truthfully, metaphorically illustrated by his inability to block out the sunlight and sleep.
Stellan Skarsgard gives a very good performance as the detective struggling to keep control of himself and the situation. As he becomes more and more tired, his life and his desires race out of control, and his need to maintain his facade causes him to make decisions that take him to the edge of catastrophe.
Usually, when a director wants to set a dark mood, he or she relies on shadows and gloom in the camera frame. Here the exact opposite has been achieved through the perpetual midnight sun which throws the descent of Jonas Engstrom into madness all too clearly. At first the effect is subtle, but as the picture continues and there is never any nightfall one begins to feel the same bone-deep weariness and lethargy experienced by the protagonist.Most of the action takes place in non-descript rooms, suffused with the cold grey light of the arctic sun. The film is engrossing from beginning to end.
3.5/5