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The Sweet Hereafter (1997)

The Sweet Hereafter (1997)
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Atom Egoyan's haunting adaptation of the Russell Banks novel The Sweet Hereafter was the Canadian filmmaker's most successful film to date, taking home a Special Grand Jury Prize at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival and scoring a pair of Academy Award nominations, including Best Director. Restructured to fit Egoyan's signature mosaic narrative style, the story concerns the cultural aftershocks which tear apart a small British Columbia town in the wake of a school-bus accident which leaves a number of local children dead. Ian Holm stars as Mitchell Stephens, a big-city lawyer who arrives in the interest of uniting the survivors to initiate a lawsuit; his maneuvering only drives the community further apart, reopening old wounds and jeopardizing any hopes of emotional recovery. Like so many of Egoyan's features, The Sweet Hereafter is a serious and painfully honest exploration of family grief; no character is immune from the sense of utter devastation which grips the film, not even the attorney, whose interests are in part motivated by his own remorse over the fate of his daughter, an HIV-positive drug addict. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi

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Starring:
Ian Holm, Sarah Polley, (more)
Director(s):
Atom Egoyan
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
R
Format(s):
DVD
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Synopsis of The Sweet Hereafter

Atom Egoyan's haunting adaptation of the Russell Banks novel The Sweet Hereafter was the Canadian filmmaker's most successful film to date, taking home a Special Grand Jury Prize at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival and scoring a pair of Academy Award nominations, including Best Director. Restructured to fit Egoyan's signature mosaic narrative style, the story concerns the cultural aftershocks which tear apart a small British Columbia town in the wake of a school-bus accident which leaves a number of local children dead. Ian Holm stars as Mitchell Stephens, a big-city lawyer who arrives in the interest of uniting the survivors to initiate a lawsuit; his maneuvering only drives the community further apart, reopening old wounds and jeopardizing any hopes of emotional recovery. Like so many of Egoyan's features, The Sweet Hereafter is a serious and painfully honest exploration of family grief; no character is immune from the sense of utter devastation which grips the film, not even the attorney, whose interests are in part motivated by his own remorse over the fate of his daughter, an HIV-positive drug addict. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi

Theatrical Feature Running Time:
116 mins

Complete Cast of The Sweet Hereafter


Director(s):
Atom Egoyan
Writer(s):
Atom Egoyan
Producer(s):
Camelia Frieberg, Atom Egoyan
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
R(Adult Situations, Sexual Situations, Brief Nudity, Not For Children)
Categories:
Independent Films
The Sweet Hereafter Awards:
  • 1997 - Cannes Film Festival - FIPRESCI Award
  • 1997 - Cannes Film Festival - Grand Jury Prize
  • 1997 - Genie Awards - Best Sound Editing
  • 1997 - Genie Awards - Best Sound
  • 1997 - Genie Awards - Best Sound
  • 1997 - Genie Awards - Best Cinematography
  • 1997 - Genie Awards - Best Editing
  • 1997 - Genie Awards - Best Original Score
  • 1997 - Genie Awards - Best Sound
  • 1997 - Genie Awards - Best Picture
  • 1997 - Genie Awards - Best Sound Editing
  • 1997 - Genie Awards - Best Sound Editing
  • 1997 - Genie Awards - Best Director
  • 1997 - Genie Awards - Best Actor
  • 1997 - Genie Awards - Best Sound Editing
  • 1997 - Genie Awards - Best Sound
  • 1997 - Genie Awards - Best Sound
  • 1997 - Genie Awards - Best Sound Editing
  • 1997 - Independent Spirit Awards - Best Foreign Film
  • 1997 - National Board of Review - Best Ensemble Acting
  • 1997 - National Society of Film Critics - Best Picture (Runner-up)
  • 1997 - Toronto Film Critics Association - Best Picture
  • 1997 - Toronto Film Critics Association - Best Director
  • 1997 - Toronto Film Critics Association - Best Actor
  • 1997 - Toronto Film Critics Association - Best Actress - Runner-up
  • 1997 - Toronto Film Critics Association - Best Canadian Film
Warning:  This product is intended for mature audiences only. It may contain violence, sexual content, drug abuse and/or strong language. You must be 17 or older to purchase it. By ordering this item you are certifying that you are at least 17 years of age.

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    Member Reviews
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    George F.

    Much better than I expected, especially after the wide range of reviews. I thought the story line was good, the acting better. I felt the story moved slowly with purpose, drew me in, then ended in a way I couldn't have expected. It's no "blockbuster" (pardon the pun) but a great movie for home on a rainy cool day...

    Yes   |   No

     
    John A.

    This is my absolute favorite movie, but it's not for everyone. You have to be in the proper frame of mind cinematically to appreciate such an offbeat, haunting, melancholy and mesmerizing drama, i.e. you should sit and WATCH the movie rather than folding laundry, doing your nails, making dinner, etc. It's a film, not a TV program you watch halfheartedly! I liked it so much that I read the novel from Russell Banks afterwards and was amazed by what was reinterpreted and incorporated into the script to make a filmable screenplay. The book is fantastic in its own right, but you'd never suspect it could translate so well to film; this is one of the all-time best film adaptations ever. For those who say it's "slow and boring" -- check the 100% fresh reviews on the Rotten Tomatoes website, you lack the cognitive ability to enjoy a true work of art.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Ben B.

    A fairly good storyline with a surprising finale. May have to go back over parts to fully understand all of it. Living not always the way it seems at first glance, much going on in the backlights.

    Yes   |   No

     
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