The Sweet Hereafter

April 19, 2017

Showings 4:30, 7:00 and 9:10pm

Canada
Not Rated| Drama | 112 minutes

Part of Canada on Screen and in celebration of the 20th Anniversary of Monday Night at the Movies.

Director: Atom Egoyan
Writers: Russell Banks (novel), Atom Egoyan (screenplay)
Stars: Ian Holm, Sarah Polley, Bruce Greenwood

A small community is torn apart by a tragic accident which kills most of the town’s children. A lawyer visits the victims’ parents in order to profit from the tragedy by stirring up their anger and launching a class action suit against anyone they can blame. The community is paralyzed by its anger and cannot let go. All but one young girl, left in a wheelchair after the accident, who finds the courage to lead the way toward healing.

The story is inspired by 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 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.