The Sweet Hereafter

Name: The Sweet Hereafter
Genre: Drama
Released: November 21, 1997
Duration: 112 min
Rating: 91
Cast: Ian Holm, Sarah Polley

1997

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 23 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 64 Ratings

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8.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 64 Ratings

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The Sweet Hereafter

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Movie Details & Credits

Fine Line Features | Release Date: November 21, 1997 | TV-MA

Starring: Ian Holm, Sarah Polley

Summary: On a winter's day, in the small rural community of Sam Dent, British Columbia, a school bus inexplicably crashes into a frozen lake, taking the lives of fourteen children and injuring many others. Shortly thereafter, Mitchell Stephens (Holm), a big city lawyer, comes to the community with promises to compensate its citizens for their loss.On a winter's day, in the small rural community of Sam Dent, British Columbia, a school bus inexplicably crashes into a frozen lake, taking the lives of fourteen children and injuring many others. Shortly thereafter, Mitchell Stephens (Holm), a big city lawyer, comes to the community with promises to compensate its citizens for their loss. (Fine Line Films)… Expand

Director: Atom Egoyan

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: TV-MA

Runtime: 112 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Roger Ebert

This is one of the best films of the year, an unflinching lament for the human condition. Read full review

100

Keith Phipps

It's all presented in a detached style that's ultimately much more moving and truthful than any heartstring-slashing weeper. This may be Egoyan's best work yet, and it's surely one of the best films of the year. Read full review

100

Marjorie Baumgarten

I can think of no other movie that has dared to analyze grief and its aftermath with such naked honesty and precision. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

Egoyan understands how potent a deliberate pace can be, how effective it is in making already powerful material strong enough to tear at your heart. Read full review

Mike Clark

A little movie almost perfectly realized. Read full review

Janet Maslin

The filmmaker creates schematic, intuitive images that hauntingly crystallize the characters' situations. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Maitland McDonagh

Piercing, sweetly melancholy and acted with a breathtaking eye for nuance. Read full review

SEE ALL 23 REVIEWS

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User Reviews

adepietro1

Dec 30, 2013

Emotionally shattering, it's an amazing meditation on feeling, guilt, blame, and the human condition. Not being able to blame a tragedy on something, something certain, something definite, is what drives us to madness and sadness.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Deanomite

Feb 6, 2020

it's hard to say what makes a great script, maybe each character having a perspective and trajectory of their own. The photography is beautiful, reminds me of growing up in Alaska, blue evenings outside warm cozy homes. The performances are all very good, Ian Holm and Sarah Polleyit's hard to say what makes a great script, maybe each character having a perspective and trajectory of their own. The photography is beautiful, reminds me of growing up in Alaska, blue evenings outside warm cozy homes. The performances are all very good, Ian Holm and Sarah Polley especially. A very good movie.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

GerronK

Nov 14, 2005

Poetic. Impeccable and absolutely powerful. Brutally harsh and at times, too hard to take in, this is a masterpiece beyond words. I ranked this movie #6 on my Top 50 Movies of all time, so that speeks on its profound effect it had on me.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

JeffK

Sep 8, 2005

Almost perfect. I have watched the film more than five times and I never fail to be moved, and I have yet to discover much more than very minor stylistic choices. Previously, I found Egoyan's movies to be interesting but self-conscious and arty to the extreme. Here, without sacrificing Almost perfect. I have watched the film more than five times and I never fail to be moved, and I have yet to discover much more than very minor stylistic choices. Previously, I found Egoyan's movies to be interesting but self-conscious and arty to the extreme. Here, without sacrificing his creativity, he reveals his exceptional humanity. A must.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Trailesque

May 4, 2020

This comes from the creative minds of 2 of my favorite auteurs, writer Russell Banks (who has a cameo) and director & screenwriter Egoyan. Egoyan ought to let his actors cut loose a little more. Anyway, this captures the look and feel of the north country in winter, and very effectivelyThis comes from the creative minds of 2 of my favorite auteurs, writer Russell Banks (who has a cameo) and director & screenwriter Egoyan. Egoyan ought to let his actors cut loose a little more. Anyway, this captures the look and feel of the north country in winter, and very effectively presents a portrait of a community there. This community is in pain, from a tragic school bus accident that killed and maimed some kids, but also from some dark secrets (incest, infidelity, financial and health woes) and an inability to pull together like they used to. A big city lawyer (well played by Ian Holm) charges into town with the intention to set things right and make some money for people, but he has problems of his own, and can't get everybody on the same page. A very fine film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

GaborA.

Mar 7, 2006

I was blown away by how good this movie was. A masterpiece.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

DrewB.

Sep 20, 2006

One of the most boring and dull movies I have ever seen. A similar storyline and meaning as so many other movies that are much better. Movies can drag to a buildup but this just drags and then drops you.

0 of 2 users found this helpful

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3	#3 Best Movie of 1997
52	#52 Most Discussed Movie of 1997
42	#42 Most Shared Movie of 1997