Review of The Sweet Hereafter (1997) by Julia D — 10 May 2009
What could have been one of those sickly Hollywood films where a Lawyer seeks compensation for the downtrodden, is instead a harsh and unflinching critique of human nature. Holm is excellent as a lawyer that has lost his daughter to drugs and as his own kind of retribution, he tries to "help" the families that lost their children in a bus crash.
What Holm fails to realise is that he is simply stirring up anger and greed in a community he doesn't understand. We see the secret and even dark sides of these peoples lives. Nobody comes off as perfect or inspirational.
Holm is decent in his actions, but flawed in his approach. Some of the parents may be seeking justice, but are eventually motivated by greed. Even one of the survivors turns the event/lawsuit into her own weapon of spite.
Complex and unforgiving, The Sweet Hereafter will inspire thought and conversation. No wonder it made Premiere's "25 Most Dangerous Movies Ever" list.
This review of The Sweet Hereafter (1997) was written by Julia D on 10 May 2009.
The Sweet Hereafter has generally received very positive reviews.
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