The Sweet Hereafter (1997)★ 6.5/10

The story itself is simple, but the director insists on dressing it up with lush landscapes and melancholic music, giving it an arthouse vibe. Yet, all the flashy parallel editing can’t imbue the film with the heartwarming core that true masters achieve. The film overindulges in sentimentalism, neglecting the logical narrative details. For example, why would a selfless, righteous lawyer go to great lengths to help someone else’s daughter, yet be so helpless when facing his own daughter’s downfall?

The film feels overly pretentious, with too many themes and perspectives vying for attention. It tries to depict the states of various people, but most fail to resonate with the audience, leaving them unable to grasp the film’s central point. The motivations of the characters and the storyline are often perplexing, making it difficult to discern their purpose.

La película parece demasiado pretenciosa: demasiados temas y perspectivas compiten por la atención. Aunque intenta representar los estados de varias personas, no logra resonar con la audiencia, y es por eso que el público es incapaz de captar el punto central. Las motivaciones de los personajes y la trama son desconcertantes, y no se entiende cual es su propósito.