Talent shines even in “Insomnia” as a “director for hire”! The appeal of the genius Nolan's masterpiece thriller

Dazzling visuals that demonstrate Nolan's artistry

Looking back at Christopher Nolan's directorial work, this is the only one in which he did not also serve as a screenwriter. As mentioned earlier, the script for this film was written by Hilary Seitz, and once it had taken some form, Nolan was hired by the studio as director. To put it bluntly, he is a hired director. Nevertheless, the artistry that is his trademark, which is consistent with his later works, can be seen throughout this work.

For example, we try to capture as much of the real thing as possible on film without relying on CG. Much of the filming took place in British Columbia, Canada, and Nolan was particular about using natural light, minimizing the use of artificial lighting. That's why the soft light of the town during the midnight sun, which is the setting, leaves a lasting impression.

"Insomnia" (c) Photofest / Getty Images

Even in the scene where Dormer shoots and kills Eckert, fog was actually created during filming. With 21st century technology, it is not impossible to synthesize CG fog, but Nolan was particular about that. The same goes for the overwhelming aerial shot of Alaska at the beginning. The bird's-eye view of the wildness of nature is like a painting, and although it looks like a digital composite, it is all the real Alaskan scenery captured on film.

Another characteristic of Nolan's works is his fond use of insert cuts. For example, the scene where Dormer tells Eckert's wife about her husband's death over the phone. Here, a video of his hand restlessly touching a pencil is inserted into his somber expression. The conflict, embarrassment, and upset of having to lie to my partner's wife who was crying on the phone. Nolan's extraordinary visual expression techniques can be seen in the editing that conveys this.

A chaotic “insomniac” world where dreams and reality, fantasy and everyday life intertwine.