The Sweet Hereafter (1997)

A bus crash in a small town brings a lawyer to the town to defend the families, but he discovers that everything is not what it seems.

Director:

Atom Egoyan

Writers:

Russell Banks (novel), Atom Egoyan (screenplay)

Stars:

Ian Holm, Sarah Polley, Caerthan Banks

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 33 wins & 54 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ian Holm	...	Mitchell
Caerthan Banks	...	Zoe
Sarah Polley	...	Nicole
Tom McCamus	...	Sam
Gabrielle Rose	...	Dolores
Alberta Watson	...	Risa
Maury Chaykin	...	Wendell
Stephanie Morgenstern	...	Allison
Kirsten Kieferle	...	Stewardess
Arsinée Khanjian	...	Wanda
Earl Pastko	...	Hartley
Simon Baker	...	Bear
David Hemblen	...	Abbott
Bruce Greenwood	...	Billy
Sarah Rosen Fruitman	...	Jessica

Storyline

A small community is torn apart by a tragic accident which kills most of the town's children. A lawyer visits the victims' parents in order to profit from the tragedy by stirring up their anger and launching a class action suit against anyone they can blame. The community is paralyzed by its anger and cannot let go. All but one young girl, left in a wheelchair after the accident, who finds the courage to lead the way toward healing.

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Plot Keywords:

slut shaming | lawyer | community | school bus | lawsuit | 

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Taglines:

There is no such thing as the simple truth.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexuality and some language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sir Ian Holm and Maury Chaykin both also appeared in A Life Less Ordinary (1997) that same year.

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Goofs

When Stephens visits the Ottos, and Mr. Otto offers him some tea, we hear a tea kettle whistling but the one we see on the wood stove is not the whistling type, and there is no steam coming from the kettle.

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Quotes

Dolores: I remember wrenching the steering wheel to the right and slapping my foot against the brake petal. I wasn't the driver anymore. The bus was like this huge wave about to break over us. Bear Otto, the Lambston kids, the Hamiltons, the Prescotts, the teenaged boys and girls from Bartlett Hill Road, Pete, Suzy, Laura, Rick, Sean Walker, Nicole Burnell, Billy Ansel's twins, Jessica and Mason... all the children of my town.
[begins sobbing]
Mitchell Stephens: Then what happened?

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Connections

Referenced in American Dad!: Live and Let Fry (2009)

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Soundtracks

Boy
Music by Mychael Danna
Lyrics by Sarah Polley
Performed by The Sam Dent Band

User Reviews

Exceptional

There aren't many films that unfold with a true grace, like a bird spreading it's wings in a beautifully restrained manner. "The Sweet Hereafter" is one of them, it is an engrossing film that doesn't rely on emotional manipulation to effect it's viewer, it tells a tale like it is, and in the end, that is exactly what makes it so good. The film studies a small Canadian town in the face of tragedy, and carefully layers a series of intertwining stories involving a handful of locals who have all been impacted by the occurence. Every character seems to have a normal life at first, but as the film progresses, it becomes clear that they do not. They are emotionally void people who all harbour secrets and lies, and as much as they want to believe what they're doing is right, deep down they know it's not. Intense emotions of guilt and grief run through them, but for unusual reasons. "The Sweet Hereafter" examines the things that surface after the wake of a tragedy, after the eminent shock and sorrow, how people's lives become so deteriorated and barren. The film skillfully uses different perspectives, places and time to explore the span of everything involved, asking why some things in the universe are out of our control, and if they happen for a reason. I was impressed with the film's meticulous structure, every frame is measured delicately to maximise it's power, and it works 100 percent of the time. From stark to striking, it's visuals work just as well as it's intellect. Ok, so Russell Bank's novel is a bit clearer, but Atom Egoyan's take on it is just as effective, if not more. Another thing that makes this film shine are it's performances, Sarah Polley and Ian Holme are both superb, both exude with a gentle sadness that genuinely convinces. In all, "The Sweet Hereafter" is a film that needs to be seen, it is a beautifully realised and haunting film that's virtually impossible to forget.

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 November 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Sweet Hereafter

Filming Locations:

Merritt, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

CAD5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$31,149, 12 October 1997

Gross USA:

$3,263,585

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,263,585

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alliance Communications Corporation, Ego Film Arts, Téléfilm Canada

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1