Review of The Sweet Hereafter (1997) by Patrick S — 04 Jul 2008

The Sweet Hereafter is Atom Egoyan's masterpiece. It is a deeply heart-wrenching tale of loss. and the manner in which it affects the bereaved. The film centers on "ambulance chasing" attorney Mitchell Stevens (Ian Holm), who comes to a small town in the midst of a tragic bus accident that kills almost all of the town's children.

Stevens (undoubtedly with his own personal gain in mind) convinces several of the victims' family member to pursue a suit against the town, and the manufacturer of the bus. The film showcases how grief can tear apart a community that was once deeply interwoven with friendship and trust; and how personal gain often takes priority over the memory of the dead.

This film is beautiful to watch, as it is so intricate and presents the viewer with multitudes of moral dilemmas and countless themes. Egoyan's screenplay is of the highest caliber, and his direction is equally compelling.

He is the best director to come out of Canada in recent memory, and his previous film Exotica, was just as compelling . The performances by Sarah Polley and Ian Holm were spectacular. I do not know how these performances went overlooked at the Academy Awards.

Holm's performance in particular, was strong enough to WIN an Oscar, in my opinion; just watch it and you'll see why. A deeply heartfelt film, that nonetheless hits very hard, and leaves a sense of sadness, The Sweet Hereafter comes highly recommended.