The Wars at IFFO. Photo: Vasileios Tselios.
The 1983 movie The Wars, featured during the International Film Festival Ottawa, is based on the Timothy Findley novel of the same name. Directed by Robin Phillips, the story follows Robert Ross, a young Canadian who enlists in the army during World War I to fight in Europe. Robert seems like the most unlikely candidate to become a soldier, as a sheltered upper-class kid with a negative reaction to violence. The turning point that leads to his enlistment is the death of his beloved sister. Throughout the movie, we follow Robert’s journey and his transformation through all the trials and tribulations he faces while fighting.
The movie is a piece of Canadian heritage, featuring the likes of Brent Carver, William Hutt, Martha Henry and other well-known Canadian actors. By any standard, the film is well-made especially given the production means of a Canadian film made in the ‘80s. All the sets seem real and detailed, while the cast effectively portrayed the emotion of the story.
Overall, the story is extremely emotional, pulling no punches in portraying the horrors of war. We see the scary realities of a soldier like Ross, going from packed hospitals to muddy and dangerous trenches. A particular standout scene for me was when Ross was on a boat crossing the Atlantic to Europe. Even before he reached the battlefield, the conditions were horrible in an overcrowded ship with an even more overcrowded stable for horses. The Wars does a fantastic job of expressing the difficulties soldiers faced in all facets of their lives during the war.
Another unique feature was the spotlight given to Robert’s mother and her grief. Robert’s enlistment heavily affects her mentally, especially coming so soon after the death of her daughter. The movie constantly cuts back to her in Canada, trying to cope with her son being off at war and her mental health progressively getting worse. It is a unique spotlight on how the war affected all citizens, both those fighting and their relatives.
In totality, the movie is a gritty and realistic look into the horrors of war. The backdrop of World War I only adds to this, as it was a much grittier and brutal form of combat than ever seen before. For its moving performances of the actors and heart-tugging story, I would recommend The Wars to anyone.
The Wars played as part of the 2024 International Film Festival Ottawa.
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