In a Norwegian city with a 24-hour daylight cycle a Swedish murder investigator has been brought in on a special case. Sleep deprived, he makes a horrible mistake which is discovered by the killer he has been hunting.
Check out the latest trailers from "His Dark Materials," The Personal History of David Copperfield, and Zombieland: Double Tap.
Related News
-
Review: In Order Of Disappearance, An Exceptional Scandinavian Thriller
25 August 2016 | Screen Anarchy -
Fantasia 2014 Review: In Order Of Disappearance Is Cold, Wry, Excellent
24 July 2014 | Screen Anarchy -
DVD Review: 'The Hunters'
19 December 2012 | CineVue
Editorial Lists
Related lists from IMDb editors
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Share this Rating
Title: Insomnia (1997)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
2 nominations.
See more awards »
Learn more
More Like This
Insomnia
(2002)
Drama
|
Mystery
|
Thriller
Director:
Christopher Nolan
Stars:
Al Pacino,
Robin Williams,
Hilary Swank
Vinterveien
(1993)
Short
|
Drama
Director:
Erik Skjoldbjærg
Stars:
Stig Henrik Hoff,
Edda Sharp,
Rolf Søder
Fifty Dead Men Walking
(2008)
Crime
|
Drama
|
Thriller
Director:
Kari Skogland
Stars:
Ben Kingsley,
Jim Sturgess,
Kevin Zegers
Nokas
(2010)
Action
|
Biography
|
Crime
Director:
Erik Skjoldbjærg
Stars:
Marit Synnøve Berg,
Frode Winther,
Morten Larsen
Orion's Belt
(1985)
Action
|
Thriller
Directors:
Ola Solum,
Tristan de Vere Cole
Stars:
Helge Jordal,
Sverre Anker Ousdal,
Hans Ola Sørlie
Love Letter
(1995)
Drama
|
Romance
Director:
Shunji Iwai
Stars:
Miho Nakayama,
Etsushi Toyokawa,
Bunjaku Han
A Somewhat Gentle Man
(2010)
Comedy
|
Crime
|
Drama
Director:
Hans Petter Moland
Stars:
Stellan Skarsgård,
Bjørn Floberg,
Jorunn Kjellsby
The Kautokeino Rebellion
(2008)
Drama
|
History
Director:
Nils Gaup
Stars:
Mikkel Gaup,
Anni-Kristiina Juuso,
Aslat Mahtte Gaup
Nine Lives
(1957)
Action
|
Adventure
|
Biography
Director:
Arne Skouen
Stars:
Jack Fjeldstad,
Henny Moan,
Alf Malland
April Story
(1998)
Drama
|
Romance
Director:
Shunji Iwai
Stars:
Takako Matsu,
Seiichi Tanabe,
Kaori Fujii
Thriller
Director:
Reto Salimbeni
Stars:
Gustav Adolph,
Til Schweiger,
Anthony Baffoe
The Vanishing
(1988)
Mystery
|
Thriller
Director:
George Sluizer
Stars:
Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu,
Gene Bervoets,
Johanna ter Steege
Edit
Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
 |
Maria Mathiesen | ... | Tanja Lorentzen |
| Stellan Skarsgård | ... | Jonas Engström | |
| Sverre Anker Ousdal | ... | Erik Vik | |
| Gisken Armand | ... | Hilde Hagen | |
|
|
Kristian Figenschow | ... | Arne Zakariassen (as Kristian Fr. Figenschow) |
|
|
Thor Michael Aamodt | ... | Tom Engen |
|
|
Frode Rasmussen | ... | Chief of Police |
|
|
Bjørn Moan | ... | Eilert |
| Maria Bonnevie | ... | Ane | |
|
|
Marianne O. Ulrichsen | ... | Frøya |
|
|
Bjørn Floberg | ... | Jon Holt |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
See All (84) »
Storyline
In a Norwegian city with a 24-hour daylight cycle, a Swedish murder investigator is brought in to find an elusive killer. But when the officer accidentally kills his own partner and covers it up, a double sided game of cat-and-mouse ensues. Written by Daniel Jos. Leary
Plot Keywords:
fog | accidental shooting | hallucination | detective | northern norway |Taglines:
Den som synder, sover ikke. [He who sins, does not sleep.]Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
Edit
Edit
See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
NorwayRelease Date:
29 May 1998 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Bezsennosc See more »Edit
Box Office
Opening Weekend USA:
$20,366, 31 May 1998Gross USA:
$227,569Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$227,569Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
DolbyColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
Edit
Music by Stephen Loveday/Darren Loveday
Published by Music House/EMI Music Services
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
This film is part of the Criterion Collection, spine #47. See more »Goofs
When Jonas is riding in the car during the bus chase scene, the blood dripping down his head is in different position than when he looks in the mirror to wipe it away. See more »Soundtracks
Abby RoadMusic by Stephen Loveday/Darren Loveday
Published by Music House/EMI Music Services
See more »
Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.Contribute to This Page
On IMDb TV, you can catch Hollywood hits and popular TV series at no cost. Select any poster below to play the movie, totally free!
Enjoy a night in with these popular movies available to stream now with Prime Video.
Insomnia is a criminal thriller shot in the classic Scandinavian style, a combination we're only seeing rather recently. When a teenaged girl turns up dead in a landfill, a homicide team is sent up from Oslo to back up the local police, who are ill-equipped to handle such a murder owing to its infrequency. Above the Arctic Circle, the lead detective is like a fish out of water - the 24-hour daylight drives him crazy and he is desperate to get out.
The scenes have a cold, bare feel to them, like the shooting locations (Tromsø and environs) and the protagonist/antagonist, Jonas Engstrøm (Stellan Skarsgård). Stark is a good word - but it is effective, and also beautiful. Bjørn Floberg also turns in a solid performance as the prime suspect. I found Skarsgård's female foil (Gisken Armand) a bit cloying but that's not enough to bring the whole film down.
Skarsgård's intensity is impressive and captivating, and the dynamic between his character and the others (he is Swedish, they are Norwegian) helps keep you interested. It's interesting to see how being a murder cop hardens a person - whether that person is Norwegian, Swedish, or American doesn't matter.
I would definitely recommend this film. It's a powerful and beautiful work that deserves to be seen.