The Wars

In a wealthy Toronto household in 1914, teen-aged Robert Ross (Brent Carver) escapes his family troubles by enlisting in the Canadian military for World War I. The movie is based on the novel by Timothy Findlay.

This film is praiseworthy for various reasons. Firstly, it is great to see a movie about Canadian history on a relatively big budget - at least in Canadian terms. Secondly, the cast includes many of the best actors renowned at the Stratford (Ontario) Theatre Festival and the Toronto theatre scene. In addition to Carver, the cast includes Martha Henry, William Hutt, Jackie Burroughs, Ann-Marie MacDonald, and Susan Wright.

The Canadian perspective of World War I is welcome as it is so rarely portrayed in film. This fact is amplified in the story when an upper-class Englishwoman makes many stupid remarks about Canada.

Director Robin Phillips (also a great stage director) is at his best in some very powerful scenes: 1) an awkward scene when Robert is with a kind prostitute (Wright) for the first time and shows his awkwardness (the two actors are brilliant in this scene); 2) Robert leading a small group of men when a gas attack occurs; 3) two battle scenes which show a shocking twist of character.

Carver leads a fine cast though with a few exceptions. Henry, a rightly renowned actress, is rather stiff in her role as Carver's mother though this might have been intended. As an English nurse, Barbara Budd is rather weak. But these flaws are small compared to the movie's strengths.

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT: Directing by Robin Phillips