Rarely has a film offered a more haunting, poignant look at the aftermath of a tragedy than director Atom Egoyan's The Sweet Hereafter, skillfully adapted from Russell Banks' novel of the same name. As the class-action lawyer who may be motivated by his own concerns, Ian Holm aids the director immensely with his complex, sympathetic performance. Egoyan's unparalleled visual aptitude is in full flourish: the chilly Canadian landscape is a character unto itself, and the director renders the tragic accident in a haunting, non-manipulative manner. Some objected to the downplaying of the novel's incest subplot, and the film's nonlinear, deliberate pace may not be to all tastes. As a delicate, challenging study of pain, grieving, and healing, The Sweet Hereafter is a singular moviegoing experience.