Synopsis
A small mountain community in Canada is devastated when a school bus accident leaves more than a dozen of its children dead. A big-city lawyer arrives to help the survivors' and victims' families prepare a class-action suit, but his efforts only seem to push the townspeople further apart. At the same time, one teenage survivor of the accident has to reckon with the loss of innocence brought about by a different kind of damage.
The Sweet Hereafter (1997) is a 1h 52min drama feature film by Atom Egoyan. A small mountain community in Canada is devastated when a school bus accident leaves more than a dozen of its childre...
Key facts
Cast
Caerthan Banks, Maury Chaykin, Ian Holm, Arsinée Khanjian, Kirsten Kierferle, Tom McCamus, Stephanie Morgenstern, Sarah Polley
Original language
English
First release
September 25, 1997 (United Kingdom)
Production companies
EGO FILM ARTS
Funding
HAROLD GREENBERG FUND / LE FONDS HAROLD GREENBERG, TÉLÉFILM CANADA
Based on
The Sweet Hereafter
Awards
Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix, National Board of Review: Top Ten Films, Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television Award for Best Motion Picture, Toronto International Film Festival Award for Best Canadian Film, Prize of the Ecumenical Jury Cannes
Setting
Canada
Filming locations
Toronto, British Columbia
Crew
Screenplay
Atom Egoyan
Producer
Atom Egoyan, Camelia Frieberg
Cinematography
Paul Sarossy
Editing
Susan Shipton
Music
Mychael Danna
Trailer
Stills
Reviews
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Festival History
- Festival du Nouveau Cinéma 2026 - Histories of Cinema
- The Rio Grind Film Festival 2026
- Hong Kong International Film Festival 2025 generic - Restored Classics
- Academy Awards 1998 academy_award
- Independent Spirit Awards 1998 generic
- Cannes Film Festival 1997 generic
- Genie Awards 1997 generic - Motion Picture; Direction; Actor in a Leading Role; Actress in a Leading Role; Actor in a Supporting Role; Art Direction/Production Design; Cinematography; Costume Design; Editing; Overall Sound; Soun ★ Motion Picture; Direction; Actor in a Leading Role; Cinematography; Overall Sound; Sound Editing; Original Score
- Locarno International Film Festival 1997 generic
- Valladolid International Film Festival 1997 generic ★ Espiga de Oro
Titles
| Original title | The Sweet Hereafter | English |
| Québec French title | De beaux lendemains |
Soundtracks
| CD | The Sweet Hereafter (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - Mychael Danna (1997) | 5 releases, 1997: Virgin Music, Virgin Music Canada |
| Cassette | The Sweet Hereafter (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - Mychael Danna (1997) | 1 release, 1997: Virgin Music Canada |
Releases & classifications
| Theatrical | United Kingdom | September 25, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Greece | November 7, 1997 |
| Theatrical | United States | November 21, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Mexico | December 1, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Brazil | December 26, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Norway | January 23, 1998 |
| Theatrical | Sweden | January 23, 1998 |
| Theatrical | Netherlands | February 19, 1998 |
| Theatrical | Argentina | February 25, 1998 |
| Theatrical | Germany | March 5, 1998 |
| Theatrical | Australia | July 16, 1998 |
| Theatrical | Hungary | December 23, 1999 |
| Theatrical | Finland | June 7, 2002 |
| Theatrical | Japan | October 23, 2004 |
| Classification | Germany | 12 |
| Classification | United Kingdom | 15 |
| Classification | United States | R |
Versions & editions
| Original version (English) | ||
| Home video | Netherlands | May 31, 2001 |
Full credits
| Director | Atom Egoyan |
| Cast | Caerthan Banks, Maury Chaykin, Ian Holm, Arsinée Khanjian, Kirsten Kierferle, Tom McCamus, Stephanie Morgenstern, Sarah Polley, Bruce Greenwood (Billy Ansel), Gabrielle Rose, Alberta Watson, Earl Pastko (Hartley Otto), Simon Baker (Bear), Kirsten Kieferle (Stewardess), David Hemblen (Abbott Driscoll), Sarah Rosen Fruitman (Jessica Ansel), Marc Donato (Mason Ansel), Devon Finn (Sean Walker), Fides Krucker (Klara Stephens), Magdalena Sokolowski (Young Zoe), James D. Watts (Young Mitchell), Brooke Johnson (Mary Burnell), Allegra Denton (Jenny), Peter Donaldson (Schwartz), Russell Banks (Dr. Robeson), Mychael Danna (Live Band Harmonium Player (uncredited)) |
| Screenplay | Atom Egoyan |
| Producer | Atom Egoyan, Camelia Frieberg |
| Executive producer | András Hámori, Robert Lantos |
| Cinematography | Paul Sarossy |
| Editing | Susan Shipton |
| Music | Mychael Danna |
| Production design | Phillip Barker |
| Visual effects | Dawn Rivard, Frank Falcone, James Cooper, Jason Wells |
| Sound | Steve Munro |
| Costumes | Beth Pasternak |
Additional data: TMDB.
Source: Cinémathèque québécoise, linked catalogue data (CC BY 4.0)
