Directed by Atom Egoyan
Written by Atom Egoyan (screenplay), Russell Banks (novel)
Cinematography by Paul Sarossy

Ian Holm as Mitchell Stephens Maury Chaykin as Wendell Walker Gabrielle Rose as Dolores Driscoll Peter Donaldson as Schwartz Bruce Greenwood as Billy Ansel David Hemblen as Abbott Driscoll Brooke Johnson as Mary Burnell Arsinée Khanjian as Wanda Otto Tom McCamus as Sam Burnell Stephanie Morgenstern as Allison Earl Pastko as Hartley Otto Sarah Polley as Nicole Burnell

Running Time: 112 min.
Release Date: Nov. '97

Overall Call:
Atom Egoyan has put together a fine film. Its topic is rather morose yet told with such grace, intelligence and delicacy. It is likened to a beautiful symphony of utter tragic tones. When the framework of a story is a school bus accident you can be certain you're in for a tear jerker. The Sweet Hereafter is that. One of the fascinating aspects of the film is how it is told. The story unravels in a nonlinear manner. Flashbacks are utilized to reveal pertinent info helping fill in gaps to explain characters positions in life. Often films constant flashbacks leaves you with a herky jerky, back and forward nausea; not here. I can't reiterate enough how fluid and delicate the tragic theme is handled. Needless to say it moves along at a thoughtfully slow pace. The characters are all very rich and multi-layered. As the film unfolds more and more insight is revealed of each characters psyche. This helps explain why at first someone might seem to be a lowlife or nut case, but soon you see he's actually handling his circumstance better than you would if in his shoes. It becomes a nice metaphor for life, don't judge unless you've walked a mile in his shoes (even then don't judge). The actors were all solid too. Particularly Holm, Greenwood and Polley shined for me. All in all -rent it, take a deep breathe and enjoy its tragic and beautiful delivery.

Reasons For Recommendation:
+ Strong as can be cast
+ Beautifully shot in an equally beautifully setting
+ Wonderfully told story