The Sweet Hereafter (film)
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.
Theatrical release poster
Director Atom Egoyan adapted Russell Banks' novel The Sweet Hereafter and incorporated The Pied Piper of Hamelin.
Ian Holm received critical praise for his performance in the film and won the Genie Award for Best Actor.
Image: Mychael Danna
Atom Egoyan is a Canadian filmmaker. Emerging in the 1980s as part of the Toronto New Wave, he made his career breakthrough with Exotica (1994), a film set in a strip club. Egoyan's most critically acclaimed film is the drama The Sweet Hereafter (1997), for which he received two Academy Award nominations. His biggest commercial success is the erotic thriller Chloe (2009).
Egoyan in 2016
Egoyan with his wife Arsinée Khanjian in 2013