Review of The Sweet Hereafter (1997) by Greg N — 01 Apr 2014

Magnificent direction. Brilliant narrative and a speechless treatment. The Sweet Hereafter ripples through your thoughts with its intelligence and the grace in Atom Egoyan's daunting treatment of the concept.

The Sweet Hereafter studies the life of a few individuals of a community in the aftermath of a school bus accident while an aged lawyer posses as a guardian angel seeking to take advantage of their vulnerability and use the tragedy befallen in an attempt to provide a meaning for his existence.

The narration also examines the changes in the relationship between the tight knit community, as the wound inflicted by the tragedy are deepened when the lawyer unites the vulnerable parents for a lawsuit as the relationships in the community fall apart, seemingly for the good.

The legendary fable "Pied Piper of Hamelin' provides as a medium of narration through it's stark similarity with the concept of the story.

Time periods fluctuate, as Egoyan explore the basic principles of the various individuals' emotional state and how sometimes these emotions itself take control over one's self without their conscience appealing.

It also seen how to escape them, a person occupies themselves by devoting to a cause as probable attempt to create temporary safe haven from all the distress. Raw emotions are projected subtly but powerfully which proves to be a major success in the construction of the idea.

Fear. Apathy. Disgust. Repentance. Sorrow. Misery. Remorse.

Egoyan builds up a vortex of emotions as we get sucked into it through the hypnotic direction.

One of the best films in any language. Remarkable direction and screenplay.

Captivating and at the same time.

, unsettling.