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Beautiful film starring some of Canada’s finest actors including William Hutt, Martha Henry, Brent Carver, novelist Anne-Marie MacDonald, Jackie Burroughs, Susan Wright, Rod Beattie, Domini Blythe and Jean Leclerc
Movie spotlight
The Wars
1983
Movie
118 min
English
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 Secretive and withdrawn, he shares his thoughts only with his sister Rowena (Anne-Marie MacDonald) who is mentally disabled.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.
Insights
IMDb6.3/10
Director: Romain Gary•Genres: Drama, War
Plot Summary
A young Polish man, raised in a Jewish family but secretly baptized into Christianity, struggles with his identity and experiences the horrors of World War II. He finds himself caught between his Jewish heritage and his Christian upbringing, leading to profound personal conflict amidst the backdrop of war and genocide. The film explores themes of faith, identity, and survival.
Critical Reception
The Wars received mixed to positive reviews upon its release. Critics often highlighted its sensitive exploration of complex themes and its strong performances, particularly from the lead actors. However, some found the narrative to be somber and occasionally slow-paced.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its poignant portrayal of a young man's internal and external struggles during wartime.
Noted for strong performances amidst a somber and reflective narrative.
Some found the film's pacing to be deliberate, which could be seen as a drawback by some viewers.
Google audience: Information on specific Google user reviews and their consensus is not readily available for this film.
Fun Fact
The film is based on the autobiographical novel of the same name by Romain Gary, who also directed the film.
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