RobertRosslivesaprotectedadolescenceinawell-offTorontosuburb.Secretiveandwithdrawn,heshareshisthoughtsonlywithhissisterRowena,whoismentallydisabled.Hefeelscompassionforhisweakandconventionalfather.Heavoidsanyconfrontationwithhismother,adominatingwomanwhosedespondencyathavinggivenbirthtoahandicappedchildhasturnedtobitterness.RowenaoccupiesacentralpositioninRobert'sexistenceofdaydreamsandmake-believe.Whenshedies,Robertclashesopenlywithhisfamily,anddecidestotakehimselfinhand.It's1914.HeenrollsintheCanadianarmy,and,aftertraininginAlbertaandMontreal,hefindshimselfinEnglandandFrance.Thewarbecomesanotherwayforhimtoresolvehisconflicts,hisdramas,hispassions--hiswars.