The Sweet Hereafter

Movie

1997

1h 52m

English

Drama

User Score:

7.5

Critic Score:

Watch on The Criterion Channel

Play Trailer

The Sweet Hereafter

Movie

1997

1h 52m

English

Drama

Play Trailer

Watch on The Criterion Channel

A small mountain community in Canada is devastated when a school bus accident leaves more than a dozen of its children dead. A big-city lawyer arrives to help the survivors' and victims' families prepare a class-action suit, but his efforts only seem to push the townspeople further apart. At the same time, one teenage survivor of the accident has to reckon with the loss of innocence brought about by a different kind of damage.

WATCHMODE

7.5

IMDB

CRITIC SCORE

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Available in 2 other countries.

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Cast

Mitchell Stephens

Nicole Burnell

Sam Burnell

Dolores Driscoll

Risa Walker

Zoe Stephens

Wendell Walker

Stephanie Morgenstern

Allison

Stewardess

Wanda Otto

Hartley Otto

Bear

Abbott Driscoll

Billy Ansel

Jessica Ansel

Mason Ansel

Sean Walker

Klara Stephens

Young Zoe

Young Mitchell

Mary Burnell

Jenny

Schwartz

Dr. Robeson

Live Band Harmonium Player (uncredi...

Directed By: Atom Egoyan

Written By: Atom Egoyan (Screenplay), Russell Banks (Novel)

Featured Comments/Tips

cage says...

2 years ago

A powerful look at loss and everything that comes along with it. Superb acting as usual in one of Egoyan's best outings.

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nextstep says...

4 months ago

The movie had great potential, especially with the parallel father-daughter dynamics—the lawyer’s relationship with his daughter and the other father-daughter storyline—alongside the compelling "piper" parable. However, I struggled to connect with the characters, so I can’t rate it higher than a 6.

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AdamMorgan says...

5 years ago

I was drawn to this movie because it was one of the highest-rated movies at rottentomatoes.com. It did not disappoint. The story starts with a school bus accident in a northern town. Not much is said about the accident at the beginning of the movie. Instead, the story focuses on an out-of-town lawyer that comes to town to try to represent the parents of the kids that were hurt in the accident. My only problem with the movie was the characterization of the lawyer as a sympathetic character. Still, the script was excellent (including some bizarre plot twists that will leave you saying "is that what I think it is?") and the ending was satisfying. follow me at https://IHATEBadMovies.com or facebook IHateBadMovies

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moonkodi says...

6 years ago

I don't think this is close to Atom's best even if it is his most celebrated movie. It's a decent drama and well made but I wouldn't watch it again.

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Featured User Reviews

WiggleWorm

5/10 3 weeks ago

[4.5/10] I watched The Sweet Hereafter with my sister, and while it held my attention, the film felt disconnected, with underdeveloped characters and a surprisingly hollow story.

The opening scenes and music were promising, but as the film progressed, the timeline became confusing, and several pl More

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