The War is a 1994 American drama film directed by Jon Avnet and starring Elijah Wood, Kevin Costner, and Mare Winningham.

After having been treated and coming home again, he gets a new job as custodial engineer at a grammar school, but loses it again within a few days because of a law forbidding people who spent time in a mental hospital to work within the vicinity of children.

At first, they and their friends argue over who must construct it and who is allowed to use it; the three boys - Stu, Chet and Marsh - want it all to themselves, while the girls - Lidia, Elvadine and Amber - want them to work on it and share it afterwards.

Moe is caught under falling rubble, but Stephen, who in Vietnam had to leave his best friend to die in order to be rescued himself, is determined to save him, even if it costs him his own life.

He frees Moe, but is hit by falling rocks himself, and though the two men are both rescued, Stephen is badly hurt and comatose, being put on life-support in the hospital.

While Stu and Lidia fear for Simmons's life, the Lipnickis find the treehouse and take it over, stealing the lock and key, which belonged to Stephen.

[5] Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film two stars out of four, criticizing the fusion of war trauma and intimate family drama.

"[6] Janet Maslin of The New York Times praised Costner and Wood's performances, saying the father-son bond was the film's strongest element.

[9] Empire, by contrast, gave the film four stars, deeming it "a superior movie that matches intelligent metaphor with outstanding performances.