The Wars (1983)

Robert Ross lives a protected adolescence in a well-off Toronto suburb. Secretive and withdrawn, he shares his thoughts only with his sister Rowena, who is mentally retarded. He feels ... See full summary »

Director:

Robin Phillips

Writers:

Timothy Findley (novel), Timothy Findley

Stars:

Richard Austin, Rodger Barton, Paul Batten

3 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Richard Austin	...	Michael
Rodger Barton	...	Charles
Paul Batten	...	Poole
Rod Beattie	...	Levitt
Kirsten Bishop	...	Peggy Ross
Tom Bishop	...	Rider
Richard Blackburn	...	Sergeant
Domini Blythe	...	Lady Barbara D'Orsey
Fred Booker	...	Verger
Dwayne Brenna	...	Tom Bryant
Barbara Budd	...	Nurse Turner
Jackie Burroughs	...	Miss Davenport
Michael Caruana	...	Soldier
Brent Carver	...	Robert Ross
Shirley Cassedy	...	Honor

Storyline

Robert Ross lives a protected adolescence in a well-off Toronto suburb. Secretive and withdrawn, he shares his thoughts only with his sister Rowena, who is mentally retarded. He feels compassion for his weak and conventional father. He avoids any confrontation with his mother, a dominating woman whose despondency at having given birth to a handicapped child has turned to bitterness. Rowena occupies a central position in Robert's existence of daydreams and make-believe. When she dies, Robert clashes openly with his family, and decides to take himself in hand. It's 1914. He enrolls in the Canadian army, and, after training in Alberta and Montreal, he finds himself in England and France. The war becomes another way for him to resolve his conflicts, his dramas, his passions--his wars.

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Plot Keywords:

canadian | rabbit | battle | british army | world war two | 

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Details

Country:

Canada West Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 November 1983 (Canada)

Filming Locations:

Burlington, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

CAD 4,100,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Nielsen-Ferns International, Polyphon Film-und Fernsehgesellschaft

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Color:

Color

User Reviews

Beware of the TV-edited version

"The Wars" has been shown on television in a heavily edited format which renders the storyline incomprehensible in parts. Try to see the full screen version, if possible.

This film was made shortly after director Robin Phillips resigned from Canada's Stratford Festival, and therefore many of the movie's cast members had recently appeared in Stratford productions. Also ... it's interesting to note that Glenn Gould himself is playing the organ in church scenes.