Review of The Sweet Hereafter (1997) by Samuel B — 02 Dec 2009
A haunting, moving, and wonderfully subtle non-Hollywood depiction of tragedy, A Sweet Hereafter concerns a school bus crash in a small Canadian town that kills 14, and sends a big city lawyer (a complex, Oscar worthy Ian Holm) to the town to assign blame for the crash, which alienates the townsfolk.
This is juxtaposed with harrowing calls by his drug addicted daughter. Those scenes, as well as the testimony from the only survivor of the crash (a great Sarah Polley), and a tense near-fight scene between Holm and a disgruntled local (powerful Bruce Greenwood) are the most dramatic, but rather than exploding into melodrama and cheap Hollywood tactics, they stay subtle, restrained, and resonant.
The film as a whole is almost otherworldly in the way it portrays such universal themes as loss and guilt in a new light. A truly unforgettable moviegoing experience.
This review of The Sweet Hereafter (1997) was written by Samuel B on 02 Dec 2009.
The Sweet Hereafter has generally received very positive reviews.
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