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INSOMNIA
Warner
Brothers
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Theme: "In
a remote part of the world
where the sun doesn't set....the
only darkness is in the soul of
man..."1
E-mail to a friend
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Insights:
Insomnia
is a story about a Los Angeles Police Detective who is
ostensibly sent to Nightmute2,
Alaska in order to help solve a difficult murder case.
Will Dormer, a distinguished detective, accompanied by his
partner, Hap Eckhart, come to Alaska not only to solve a
crime, but to escape Los Angeles as well. An internal
investigation now threatens to pit the "save your own
skin" Eckhart against his veteran partner. The
renowned Dormer has only one thing to hide; having given
into the system, he transgressed the law by planting
evidence in a difficult case. One small mistake now
threatens his whole career.
The
sun is used as a powerful metaphor in Insomnia.
Will Dormer is brought to the Land of the Midnight Sun to
reveal the darkness in his soul. As one transgression
leads to another, and he becomes ensnared in a web of
corruption and deceit, Will desperately tries to block the
"night" sun out of his hotel room. The
insomnia he experiences in simply the light flooding his
dark soul giving him no rest, no peace.
After
six sleepless nights, he makes his confession to Rachel, the
kind hotel clerk. Rachel, who always wears a cross,
takes on a priestly role as she simply listens to the man
unburden his soul. By confessing and telling the
truth, Will Dormer lets the light in, dispelling the
darkness. He now knows what he has to do.
Putting his badge back on signifies his willingness to go
back under the law.
Throughout
the film there has been a subtle contrast between two men
and two killings. Walter Finch, the murderer of Kay
Connell, has tried to compare himself with Will
Dormer. However, Walter, unlike Will, has grown used
to the light at night. His soul has walked in darkness
for so long that the light no longer disturbs him.
When a man reaches the point where light cannot penetrate
his soul, he is doomed. Death catches Walter by
surprise. His wide-open eyes disappearing into the
dark waters symbolically portray a man who will never find
rest, never find peace (Isaiah
48:22).
Will
Dormer's death is very different. He is a repentant
and changed man as evidenced by his instructions to the
innocent Detective Ellie Burr. "Don't"
(destroy the evidence that convicts him), "Don't lose
your way." At last, he now can sleep; at last his
soul is at rest.
Scripture:
John
3:19
I
John 1:5
John
8:12
Notes:
1. Insomnia
by Robert Westbrook
2. Nightmute = night: period
of darkness between sunset and sunrise, darkness of
night,
a condition or time of obscurity, ignorance,
sinfulness, etc.
mute: silent, refraining form
speech or utterance.
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