Pinouchipop Review of The Sweet Hereafter

The Sweet Hereafter (1997)

I was left with many questions

[6/10 · 15 August 2019]

I read many reviews and most glowing. However, I myself found that movie somewhat confusing. I did not see, for example, that the young teen's father was necessarily incestuous. It wast not at all obvious to me as all seem to consider it to be. As for the deviousness of the lawyer, I did not see it either. So, am I completely dumb?... I saw a confused lawyer and father, pained by his daughter's drug addiction. I saw him as honest in wanting to get a compensation for the grieving parents. And in the end, I did not understand why the crippled teenager lied. Moreover, I did not understand how she could be standing and walking, in the movie closing. So........ However well acted the movie is, however beautiful the scenery and the way it is put on the screen, it took me explainations to understand everything beyond the symbol of the Pied Piper in the sense that TRAGEDY was what had taken the children away.

I did not see the lawyer as the Pied Piper. Once again: am I a nitwit?...

I did not even understand what was the «hidden meaning» when I saw the lady driver of the sunken school bus greeting the passengers of a city bus, in the end. I thought: huh, what??? Oh! So she is still a bus driver??? (Puzzled)

And at last, the blond teen is standing and walking, when I thought she would remain a lifelong invalid.

So......... Beautiful movie, great acting, but still many questions not obviously answered for the viewer. Or so I thought... But, that's me. Huh, am I the only one???...