The Wars

The Wars (1983)

Robert Ross (Brent Carver) lives a protected adolescence in a well-off Toronto suburb. Secretive and withdrawn, he shares his thoughts only with his sister Rowena (Anne-Marie MacDonald) who is mentally disabled. He feels compassion for his weak and conventional father. He avoids any confrontation with his mother (Martha Henry), 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.

Director: Robin Phillips

Casts

	Brent Carver as Robert Ross
	Kirsten Bishop as Peggy Ross
	Jackie Burroughs as Miss Davenport
	Shirley Douglas as Mrs. Lawson
	William Hutt as Mr. Ross
	Domini Blythe as Lady Barbara d'Orsey
	Margaret Tyzack as Lady Emmeline
	Jean LeClerc as Captain Taffler
	Ann-Marie MacDonald as Rowena Ross
	Alan Scarfe as Captain Leather
	Susan Wright as Ella
	David Robb as Major Terry
	Barbara Budd as Nurse Turner
	Richard Austin as Michael
	Rodger Barton as Charles
	Richard Curnock as Minister
	Paul Batten as Poole
	Rod Beattie as Levitt
	Tom Bishop Sr. as Rider
	Richard Blackburn as
	Fred Booker as
	Dwayne Brenna as
	Michael Caruana as Soldier
	Clare Coulter as Eena
	Shirley Cassedy as
	David Dunbar as Mr. Brown
	Rupert Frazer as Clive
	Craig Gardner as German Soldier
	Graeme Gibson as Devlin
	Maurice Good as Sergeant Joyce
	Bobby Hannah as
	Paul Hubbard as Captain Ord
	Jeff Hyslop as Clifford Purchas
	Eleanor Kane as
	James Kidnie as Martial
	Leo Leyden as
	Hardee T. Lineham as Bonnycastle
	Richard McMillan as Harris
	Simon Treves as Patient
	Irene Sutcliffe as Nurse
	Timothy Webber as Corporal Bates
	Stephen Russell as Cigarette
	Annette Vyge as Madam
	Martha Henry as Mrs. Ross

Crew