'Sutherland, Donald' was originally cast as Mitchell Stephens, but had to back out and was replaced by Ian Holm at the last minute. Cameo: [Russell Banks] the author of the novel the movie is based on makes a cameo as the doctor ("The mind is kind") in the hospital scene with Sarah Polley. Caerthan Banks is the daughter of 'Russell Banks' , who wrote the novel (also titled "The Sweet Hereafter") that the film is based on. Was inspired by the 1989 school bus crash in Alt ...[Read Story ]