Insomnia (M) PRESENTED IN 35MM FILM

Insomnia (M, 2002) Presented in 35mm Film by The Revival House Perth

Los Angeles detective Will Dormer (Al Pacino) is sent to the remote Alaskan town of Nightmute to investigate a young girl's murder during the endless daylight of the Arctic summer. Exhausted from the constant sunlight and guilt over past cases, Dormer makes a critical mistake during a stakeout: he shoots his partner and fellow detective Hap Eckhart (Martin Donovan), then covers it up. The only witness to his crime is the actual killer, Walter Finch (Robin Williams), a seemingly respectable mystery writer and murderer who uses his knowledge of Dormer's guilt as leverage. As Dormer descends deeper into the psychological darkness of sleep deprivation and moral corruption, Finch orchestrates a twisted game where he holds Dormer's secret over his head. The detective must choose between solving the crime and protecting his secret, all while the midnight sun prevents him from finding any rest or escape.

Director Christopher Nolan brings his meticulous craftsmanship to this 2002 American remake of a Norwegian film, creating a psychological thriller that examines corruption and moral compromise. Al Pacino delivers one of his finest performances, portraying a good man slowly unraveling under the weight of guilt and exhaustion, his inability to sleep becoming both literal and psychological. Robin Williams, in a rare dramatic role, transforms into something genuinely menacing—his Walter Finch is intelligent, cultured, and utterly ruthless. Williams subverts his screen persona completely, making the character uncomfortably charming and terrifying. Wally Pfister's cinematography uses the endless daylight as a visual representation of psychological torment, while David Julyan's dissonant score amplifies the mounting dread. The film examines how good people can compromise their principles and how exhaustion erodes moral judgment.

Original format and audio experience of this film faithfully reproduced by The Revival House. Presented in 35mm film unless noted otherwise.

When: Friday, July 3rd at 7:20PM
Where: The Revival House at the Como Theatre
Rating: M (Medium level violence, Medium level coarse language, Adult themes)