The Sweet Hereafter (film)

The Sweet Hereafter
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAtom Egoyan
Screenplay byAtom Egoyan
Based onThe Sweet Hereafter
by Russell Banks
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyPaul Sarossy
Edited bySusan Shipton
Music byMychael Danna, Toronto Consort
Production
company
Ego Film Arts
Distributed byAlliance Communications
Release dates
  • 14 May 1997 (1997-05-14) (Cannes)
  • 10 October 1997 (1997-10-10) (Canada)
Running time
112 minutes[1]
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish
Budget$5 million[2]
Box office$3.3 million[3]

The Sweet Hereafter is a 1997 Canadian drama film written and directed by Atom Egoyan, adapted from the 1991 novel by Russell Banks. It tells the story of a school bus accident in a small town that kills 14 children. A class-action lawsuit ensues, proving divisive in the community and becoming tied with personal and family issues. It stars an ensemble cast featuring Ian Holm, Sarah Polley, Maury Chaykin, Bruce Greenwood, Tom McCamus, Gabrielle Rose, Arsinée Khanjian and Alberta Watson.

The film, inspired by the 1989 Alton, Texas, bus crash, was filmed in British Columbia and Ontario, incorporating a film score with medieval music influences and references to the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin.

Although The Sweet Hereafter was not a box office success, it was critically acclaimed and won three awards, including the Grand Prix, at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival, along with seven Genie Awards, including Best Motion Picture. It also received two Academy Award nominations, for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. Toronto International Film Festival critics named The Sweet Hereafter one of the top 10 Canadian films of all time.

  1. ^ "The Sweet Hereafter (1997)". IMDb.
  2. ^ Kaufman, Anthony (21 November 1997). "An Interview with Atom Egoyan, Director of 'The Sweet Hereafter,' Part I". IndieWire. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  3. ^ "The Sweet Hereafter (1997) - Box Office Mojo". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 13 February 2011.