Allmovie Rated Best

Following a tragic schoolbus accident, high-profile lawyer Mitchell Stephens descends upon a small town. With promises of retribution and a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of the grieving community, Stephens begins his investigation into the details of the crash. But beneath the town's calm, he uncovers a tangled web of lies, deceit and forbidden desires that mirrors his own troubled personal life. Gradually, we learn that Stephens has his own agenda, and that everyone has secrets to keep.Through a skillful weaving of past and present, acclaimed director Atom Egoyan examines the nature of the human spirit and its capacity for grief, loss and ultimately, redemption. Nominated for two Academy Awards (1997 Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay).