Insomnia

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

“Two city cops arrive to help the locals investigate a murder. Jonas (Skarsgård) and partner Erik (Ousdal) are unimpressed by the wastes of northern Norway – land of the midnight sun – and the killer has covered his tracks all too well: the only clue is the victim’s school satchel. Jonas uses the bag to lure his man back to the crime scene. As the fog rolls in off the Arctic Ocean, the trap is sprung. In the confusion, Jonas shoots his partner dead, but ducks the blame. Can he solve one murder, salve his conscience, and save himself? The first feature by Erik Skjoldbjærg (a graduate of our National Film and TV School) may be lacking in the plot department, but it wrings some ingenious twists from the formula. The light in this ‘film blanc‘ assumes a toxic quality, insistent and piercing as the truth – at least in Jonas’s exhausted eyes. A superbly controlled actor, Skarsgård shows us an incisive mind shutting out humanity to fall into perilous complicity with his prey. A taut and distinctive example of genre film-making.” –Time Out (London)

Part of the series Cold Cases: The Department Q Trilogy & the New Nordic Noir

• Country Norway
• Language In Norwegian and Swedish with English subtitles
• Year 1997
• Running Time 96 minutes
• Director Erik Skjoldbjærg

IFC Center does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. In addition to the synopses, trailers and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.