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If Snow White Had Insomnia

Posted on: 24 October 2009 by Thom Ernst

We're creeping up to Halloween and until recently my (almost) 3 year-old daughter was determined to dress up as a tiger for the occassion.  That changed when she saw SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS.  As cool as it would have been had she switched from tiger to dwarf, witch, evil queen or even a magic mirror, she choose what just about every girl from 3 to 10 would chose, Snow White and she hasn't budged from that opinion since. This sudden switch is due mainly,  I think, because of Disney's new Blu-ray re-release of the movie that the American Film Institute calls: "The greatest animated film of all time."  My daughter doesn't seem to care whether or not the movie is in Blu-Ray or not (though for the most part, given to her geeky dad, Hi-Def is all she knows).  What she does love is the story, and Snow White is quite a story.  It was when I first saw it as a child and it still is today.

 

 

My whole career is movies.  Writing about them, buying them (for TVO), reviewing them, interviewing people about them, talking about them and watching them.  And when I'm not working there is nothing I enjoy doing more, aside from spending time with my wife and daughter and friends, than sitting back and enjoying a good movie.  And it all began with SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS, the film that is likely the first film many of us saw. 

Case in point...I was just at a children's birthday party this morning where one pair of parents announced with glee..."We're going home to watch SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS!"  "The new blu-ray release version?" I asked, because I like to let people know that I'm in the know.  "Yes," they answered and soon the whole room was buzzing with adult voices talking about the first time they'd seen the film and the lasting effect it had on them.   Even the very popular and hip movie blog Reel Addict took time from their preoccupation with genre films and edgy new theatrical releases to reminise and champion this version of SNOW WHITE - and the Reel Addict writers are at least 15 years younger than most of us at that party.

After all this, you would be forgiven for wondering if we're airing SNOW WHITE this Halloween weekend which wouldn't be a bad idea given that the magic mirror, evil queen and the wicked witch can be quite frightening.  And the scene where SNOW takes a bite from the apple is one doozy of a creepy spell.  But a little thing like not having the rights to show the movie forces us to be a bit more creative in our programming. 

Although it may not seem like a Halloween theme, this weekend we're dealing with insomnia - which is, in a way, the opposite of SNOW WHITE.  Snow was cursed to a sleep she could not wake from, where as our films deal with those cursed to be awake without sleep.  And anyone who experiences it knows that not sleeping is not only uncomfortable, annoying and unhealthy, but it can be terrifying.  It certainly is in the case of the character played by Al Pacino in Christopher Nolan's INSOMNIA and for Christian Bale's emaciated protagonist in Brad Anderson's THE MACHINIST.

I've been suffering from insomnia for most of my life. . Blame an over-active mind and an addiction to late night movies - often of the creepy horror genre.  Insomnia is not a lot of fun and contrary to people who aren't afflicted with sleepless nights, it is not an opportunity to get more done.  Every waking hour is spent trying to find ways to ease back into sleep.  True, I spend that time watching mindless movies and reading, but it neither feel like much of an accomplishment.  Were someone to give me a poison apple, I might just very well accept it.

Naturally It's been eye-opening (yes...a pun!) for me to interview doctor's and others about insomnia the condition - as well as the film.  Did I learn something from them?  I think, yes. 

I'd be very interested in hearing from other insomniacs. 

Stay up for both films.  For insomniacs, you are already up - for those who have no trouble sleeping - what's one night without rest?

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