The War

Set in a small southern town in the early 1970s, The War follows the Simmons family as Vietnam veteran Stephen returns home to his wife Lois and their children, Stu and Lidia. Stephen struggles to find steady work and to readjust to civilian life, while Lois supports the household in cramped, rundown surroundings. The children try to hold on to their summer, building a treehouse that becomes a refuge, and their world collides with the neighboring Lipnicki kids, who want the treehouse for themselves. Stephen's efforts to teach his children about the cost of violence run up against the practical difficulties they face.

Jon Avnet directed and produced the film, working from a screenplay by Kathy McWorter. It was Avnet's second feature as director, following Fried Green Tomatoes in 1991. Elijah Wood plays Stu and Kevin Costner plays Stephen, with Mare Winningham as Lois, Lexi Randall as Lidia, LaToya Chisholm as Elvadine and Christopher Fennell as Billy Lipnicki among a credited cast of 24. The production was handled by Universal Pictures, Island World and The Avnet/Kerner Company.

Released in November 1994, the film runs 126 minutes and mixes family drama with the lingering effects of war. On TMDB it holds a rating of 6.7 out of 10 from 232 votes. Its performance and reception place it between Avnet's earlier hit and his later romantic drama Up Close & Personal, part of a directing career that has continued across several decades.