The Wars
1983Robert 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 Secretive and withdrawn, he shares his thoughts only with his sister Rowena (Anne-Marie MacDonald) who is mentally disabled.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.
Acted in
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
Fred Booker
Dwayne Brenna
Michael Caruana
as Soldier
Clare Coulter
as Eena
Shirley Cassedy
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
Paul Hubbard
as Captain Ord
Jeff Hyslop
as Clifford Purchas
Eleanor Kane
James Kidnie
as Martial
Leo Leyden
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