Insomnia (1997)

I have no clue what the point of the American version of Insomnia was. The Norwegian original is far superior in every sense. The starkly penetrating, white light of the far north makes the film truly memorable. Stellan Skarsgård acts the part of the sleepless cop who is placed in a small town up north where the sun never sets. He's there to solve a murder case: a 17-year old girl has been killed. The suspect is a shy author. The sleepless cop tries to hook up with the concierge at the hotel. Erik Skjoldbjaerg directs with a steady hand. Even though the film takes us to the familiar territory of grizzled cop who is haunted by inner demons the result still manages to add a new touch to the genre that explore the darkness of men who are bogged down in trouble. The location plays a conclusive role. This version of Northern Norways is far from cute postcards. This is dirty backstreets and dangerous-looking nature.