The Sweet Hereafter (film)

The Sweet Hereafter
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Atom Egoyan
Screenplay by	Atom Egoyan
Based on	The Sweet Hereafter by Russell Banks
Produced by	Atom Egoyan Camelia Frieberg
Starring	Ian Holm Maury Chaykin Peter Donaldson Bruce Greenwood David Hemblen Brooke Johnson Arsinée Khanjian Tom McCamus Stephanie Morgenstern Earl Pastko Sarah Polley Gabrielle Rose Alberta Watson
Cinematography	Paul Sarossy
Edited by	Susan Shipton
Music by	Mychael Danna, Toronto Consort
Production company	Ego Film Arts
Distributed by	Alliance Communications
Release dates	14 May 1997 (1997-05-14) (Cannes) 10 October 1997 (1997-10-10) (Canada)
Running time	112 minutes[1]
Country	Canada
Language	English
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.