The Sweet Hereafter is a 1997 Canadian drama film written and directed by Atom Egoyan, starring Ian Holm, Sarah Polley and Bruce Greenwood and adapted from the novel of the same name by Russell Banks. The film tells the story of a school bus accident in a small town that results in the deaths of numerous children. A class-action lawsuit ensues, proving divisive in the community and becoming tied with personal and family issues.
The Sweet Hereafter | |
---|---|
North American theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Atom Egoyan |
Produced by |
|
Screenplay by | Atom Egoyan |
Based on | The Sweet Hereafter by Russell Banks |
Starring |
|
Music by | Mychael Danna |
Cinematography | Paul Sarossy |
Edited by | Susan Shipton |
Production company | Ego Film Arts |
Distributed by | Alliance Communications (Canada) Fine Line Features (United States) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 112 minutes |
Country | Canada |
Language | English |
Budget | $5 million |
Box office | $3.3 million |
The story is inspired by the Alton, Texas bus crash, actual events in Alton, Texas in 1989. It 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.
Screenplay
In the small town of Sam Dent, British Columbia, a school bus hits a patch of ice, runs through a barrier and crashes into a lake, killing 14 children. The grieving parents are approached by an out-of-town lawyer, Mitchell Stephens, who is haunted by his dysfunctional relationship with his drug-addicted daughter. Stephens persuades the reluctant parents and bus driver Dolores Driscoll to file a class action lawsuit against the town and bus company for damages, arguing that the accident is a result of negligence in constructing the barrier or the bus.
The case depends on coaching the few surviving witnesses to say the right things in court, particularly Nicole Burnell, a 15-year-old now paralyzed from the waist down. Before the accident, Nicole was an aspiring songwriter and was being sexually abused by her father, Sam.
One bereaved parent, Billy Ansel, distrusts Stephens and pressures Sam to drop the case; Nicole overhears their argument. In the pretrial deposition, Nicole unexpectedly accuses the bus driver Dolores of speeding, halting the lawsuit given Dolores' lack of deep pockets. Stephens and Nicole's father know she is lying but can do nothing. Two years later, Stephens sees Driscoll working as a bus driver in a city.
- Ian Holm as Mitchell Stephens
- James D. Watts as Young Mitchell
- Caerthan Banks as Zoe Stephens
- Magdalena Sokoloski as Young Zoe
- Fides Krucker as Young Klara (Stephens)
- Sarah Polley as Nicole Burnell
- Tom McCamus as Sam Burnell
- Brooke Johnson as Mary Burnell
- Allegra Denton as Jenny Burnell
- Gabrielle Rose as Dolores Driscoll
- David Hemblen as Abbott Driscoll
- Bruce Greenwood as Billy Ansel
- Sarah Rosen Fruitman as Jessica Ansel
- Marc Donato as Mason Ansel
- Alberta Watson as Risa Walker
- Maury Chaykin as Wendell Walker
- Devon Finn as Sean Walker
- Arsinée Khanjian as Wanda Otto
- Earl Pastko as Hartley Otto
- Simon R. Baker as Bear (Otto)
- Stephanie Morgenstern as Allison O'Donnell
- Kirsten Kieferle as Stewardess
- Russell Banks as Dr. Robeson
- Peter Donaldson as Schwartz (the opposing lawyer)
- Mychael Danna as harmonium player
Adaptation
Canadian director Atom Egoyan adapted the screenplay after his wife, actress Arsinée Khanjian, suggested he read Russell Banks' The Sweet Hereafter. The novel is inspired by an incident in Alton, Texas in 1989, in which a bus crash killed 21 students, leading to multiple lawsuits. Egoyan found it initially challenging to acquire the rights, as they had been optioned to another studio that was not actually producing it. Shortly before the option expired, novelist Margaret Atwood suggested to Egoyan that he meet with Banks personally after the director's success with the film Exotica (1994), and Banks was willing to grant him the rights. Egoyan later stated he was drawn to filming the novel because he felt film is for "confronting the most extreme things." As an Armenian Canadian, he also saw the story as a metaphor for the Armenian Genocide, in which those guilty had not accepted responsibility.
In adapting the novel, Egoyan changed the setting from Upstate New York to British Columbia, to help secure Canadian funding. He also added references to the story of The Pied Piper of Hamelin by Robert Browning, to emphasize how Egoyan saw The Sweet Hereafter as a "grim fairy tale." Nicole is seen reading The Pied Piper to children who later die in the accident. In that story, the Pied Piper leads all the children away, never to return, after their parents refuse to honour their debt to him. Egoyan wrote a new stanza in the Pied Piper style for the scene in which Nicole testifies Dolores was speeding, in which she describes her father's lips as "frozen as the winter moon." Egoyan also made Mitchell Stephens the main character and increased the importance of Stephens' daughter, and moved the reveal of incest to later in the film.
Filming
The film was shot in British Columbia and Ontario, on a budget of $5 million. Funding came from the company Alliance Communications. Egoyan assembled many Canadian actors he had worked with in prior films, including Bruce Greenwood, Gabrielle Rose and Sarah Polley. Egoyan explained the benefit of working with a familiar cast, saying "When you’re working on a limited production schedule, it’s a comfort to know that you know the personalities involved, you know what they need as opposed to having to discover that and be surprised by that."
Ian Holm was cast as Mitchell Stephens after the actor originally set to play the character, Donald Sutherland, quit the project. In casting the part, Egoyan was inspired by Holm's "strangely compassionate, yet furtive and menacing" performance in The Homecoming (1973). Holm explained why he accepted the role, saying, "It's not often you get offered a leading role at age 65... This is my first in a movie," and afterwards said the film is "very touching" and "a masterpiece." Holm called his part challenging, as it was his first lead, but he found Egoyan and the Canadian actors to be great to work with.
Music
The Pied Piper references influenced composer Mychael Danna's music, which uses a Persian ney flute along with old instruments such as recorders, crumhorns and lutes, creating "a pseudo-medieval score." The score thus combined Danna's interests in old and exotic music. Egoyan stated medieval-style music was used to make the film feel timeless, evoking Brothers Grimm fairy tales and avoiding the feel of a TV movie.
Polley's character, Nicole, is an aspiring singer before the accident, and is seen on stage performing Jane Siberry's "One More Colour". Danna and Polley cooperated to create Nicole's music, with Polley writing lyrics to Danna's original songs and with Danna arranging the adaptations of "Courage" and "One More Colour." The songs were chosen because of their domestic popularity, reinforcing the local nature of Nicole's music. The Tragically Hip's original version of "Courage" also appears in the film.
The film debuted in the Cannes Film Festival in May 1997, and went on to play in the Toronto International Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, New York Film Festival and Valladolid International Film Festival. In Canada, the film was distributed by Alliance Communications. Following its screening at Cannes, Fine Line Features adopted the film for distribution in the United States in November 1997.
In Region 1, The Sweet Hereafter was released on DVD in May 1998. In Canada, the film had a Blu-ray release in June 2012, with special features including interviews.
Box office
By the spring of 1998, The Sweet Hereafter had grossed $1 million domestically. According to The Numbers, The Sweet Hereafter finished its run after grossing $4,306,697 domestically and $3,644,550 in other territories, for a worldwide total of $7,951,247. Although Canadian historian Geor
Watch movie The Sweet Hereafter Film online on Amazon
Watch movie The Sweet Hereafter Film online
Watch The Movie On PrimeVeera Madakari Full HD Movie Download
Jaise Ko Taisa Full HD Movie Download
Hum Hain Kamal Ke Full HD Movie Download
Lahu Ke Do Rang Full HD Movie Download
Hot Money Full HD Movie Download
Baazi (1968) Full HD Movie Download
Jaal (1986) Full HD Movie Download
Munimji (1955) Full HD Movie Download
Ab Insaf Hoga Full HD Movie Download
Will You Marry Me? Full HD Movie Download
Chetabadi Full HD Movie Download
Allari Pilla Anumanapu Pellam Full HD Movie Download
Oceans Thirteen Full HD Movie Download
Embryo Full HD Movie Download
Ariyatha Veethikal Full HD Movie Download
Allari Mogudu Full HD Movie Download
Prema Kavyam Full HD Movie Download
Navarathri Full HD Movie Download
Debbaku Tha Dongala Mutha Full HD Movie Download
O Manishi Thirigi Choodu Full HD Movie Download
Aaina (1993) Full HD Movie Download
Download latest Movie from bollywood
- 1> baaghi 3
- 2> THE SKY IS PINK MOVIE FULL STORY AND REVIEW
- 3> Luka Chuppi
- 4> TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE
- 5> Kabir Singh
- 6> Street Dancer 3D
- 7> Simmba
- 8> Gone Girl
- 9> The Girl Who Lived
- 10> Ludo
- 11> DILWALE DULHANIA LE JAYENGE
- 12> GUILTY
- 13> The Godfather
- 14> Adventures of Rusty
- 15> Sooryavanshi
- 16> Satyameva Jayate 2
- 17> Thappad
- 18> Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2
- 19> KGFChapter 2
- 20> Mardaani 2
- 21> Pinjar
- 22> Shivaji maharaj
- 23> Ek Villian 2
- 24> Hungama 2
- 25> Divergent
- 26> Mumbai Saga
- 27> The Internship
- 28> HIT (telugu)
- 29> Panga
- 30> The perfect date
- 31> 16 December
- 32> Gopala Gopala (Telugu)
- 33> Brahmastra
- 34> Gangubai Kathiawadi
- 35> Manmadhudu
- 36> Nenu local
- 37> Mahanati
- 38> Shatamanam bavathi
- 39> Lagaan
- 40> After
- 41> MOM
- 42> Shamshera
- 43> Raguvaran BTech
- 44> Khakee
- 45> The villain
- 46> OM
- 47> Mr. perfect
- 48> Bueatifull mind
- 49> Hichki
- 50> Gabbar Singh
- 51> Jogi
- 52> Before Sunrise
- 53> Before Sunset
- 54> Before Midnight
- 55> The Big Bull
- 56> Top Gun: Maverick
- 57> The Purge
- 58> The Sky is Pink
- 59> Laxmmi Bomb
- 60> Sadak 2
- 61> Sufna
- 62> Prithviraj
- 63> PK
- 64> Coolie No 1(2020)
- 65> Black Widow
- 66> Dear Zindagi
- 67> Dil Bechara
- 68> PHIR HERA PHERI
- 69> WAR
- 70> Dostana
- 71> RRR: Roudram Ranam Rudhiram
- 72> Maidan
- 73> Dabbang 3
- 74> Chhalaang
- 75> life as we know it
- 76> SherShaah
- 77> Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar
- 78> Event Horizon
- 79> 83
- 80> Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai
- 81> Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl
- 82> Mr India
- 83> Vivah
- 84> Anokha Bandhan
- 85> Ghost
- 86> Bhoot: Part One - The Haunted Ship
- 87> Haseen Dilruba
- 88> Laal Singh Chaddha
- 89> Qismat
- 90> Rajput
- 91> Drive
- 92> Dil Chahta Hai
- 93> Dil Ki Baazi
- 94> Dil Ka Rishta
- 95> Teesri Manzil
- 96> Dil
- 97> Love Aaj Kal
- 98> Khaali Peeli
- 99> Bunty Aur Babli 2
- 100> Atrangi Re
- 101> Gulabo Sitabo
- 102> Jodi
- 103> Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari
- 104> Deewana
- 105> Attack
- 106> Sardar Udham Singh
- 107> Toofan
- 108> THE LOVEBIRDS
- 109> Jersey
- 110> Ginny Weds Sunny
- 111> Thalaivi
- 112> Shiddat
- 113> Angels vs Zombies
- 114> Koi Mil Gya
- 115> Thank God
- 116> Bhuj: The Pride of India
- 117> Hum Aapke Hain Kaun
- 118> The Platform
- 119> Bird Box
- 120> Roohi Afzana
- 121> Torbaaz
- 122> Nikamma
- 123> World War Z
- 124> Extraction
- 125> Train to Busan
- 126> Life of Pi
- 127> SHAADI MEIN JROOR AANA
- 128> Himmat Aur Mehnat
- 129> To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You
- 130> Mimi
- 131> Good Newwz
- 132> Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan
- 133> Raabta
- 134> Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
- 135> Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
- 136> Chhapaak
- 137> War of the Worlds
- 138> Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- 139> Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- 140> MURDER MYSTERY
- 141> Shakuntala Devi
- 142> Bachchan Pandey
- 143> Jayeshbhai Jordar
- 144> Sheer Qorma
- 145> Saina
- 146> 'O' Pushpa I hate tears
- 147> Kedarnath
- 148> MS Dhoni The Untold Story
- 149> Chhichhore
- 150> Badhaai Ho
- 151> Unstoppable
- 152> Oz the Great And Powerful
- 153> The Girl on the Train
- 154> Haathi Mere Saathi 2020
- 155> The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
- 156> Gandhi Se Pehle Gandhi
- 157> The Song of Scorpions
- 158> Srimanthudu
- 159> Hello Guru Prema Kosame
- 160> Beauty and The Beast
- 161> Black Panther
- 162> Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
- 163> Bole Chudiyan
- 164> Fidaa
- 165> Duvvada Jagannadham
- 166> Bruce Lee: The Fighter
- 167> Hyper
- 168> Yaara
- 169> Red (2020)
- 170> Shivam
- 171> That Is Mahalakshmi
- 172> Nishabdham
- 173> Aashram 2020 web series
- 174> Laxmii
- 175> Mismatched
- 176> STUDENT OF THE YEAR 2
- 177> NAIL POLISH
- 178> Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi
- 179> KAAGAZ
- 180> 12 o Clock
- 181> The Power
- 182> bolo hau
- 183> Tribhanga
- 184> JAMUN
- 185> Madam Chief Minister
- 186> Maasaab
- 187> Aadhaar
- 188> Tanhaji
- 189> Bhaagi 3
- 190> Bhootnath
- 191> MALANG
- 192> Jai Mummy Di
- 193> Haathi Mere Saathi 2021
- 194> Shakeela
- 195> Unpaused
- 196> Annayya
- 197> Vamsoddharakudu
- 198> Mrugaraju
- 199> Narasimha Naidu
- 200> Sankranti
- 201> Manasu Maata Vinadhu
- 202> Anjaane
- 203> Apaharan
- 204> Bachke Rehna Re Baba
- 205> Bewafaa
- 206> Roohi
- 207> Radhe
- 208> Zindagi Khoobsoorat Hai
- 209> Yeh Mohabbat Hai
- 210> Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai?
- 211> The Tomorrow War
- 212> DehradunDiary
- 213> Meri Shaadi Karaoo
- 214> Matruu Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola
- 215> No One Killed Jesica
- 216> Aag Ka Goola
- 217> Eight Million Dollars
- 218> Three Hundred
- 219> Cats and Dog
- 220> Decoy
- 221> Gold Rush
- 222> You Have Got Mail
- 223> Final Destination three
- 224> Tofan
- 225> Jungle