Filmmaker David G. Evans was searching for ideas a few years ago when he stumbled upon a true story he thought would make for an interesting movie.
This weekend, Evans’ movie based on that true-life event hits theaters. Called Indivisible (PG-13), the faith-based movie follows the story of Chaplain Darren Turner, who went on a 15-month tour to Iraq and returned home a stressed-out man, changed by what he experienced.
An Army chaplain – the news story said – felt called by God to help rescue the souls and marriages of soldiers, but it was the chaplain’s marriage that ended up on the rocks.
It was a story Evans didn’t expect to find.
“I prayed about it and really felt like this is the story that God wanted us to tell,” Evans told me recently.
This weekend, Evans’ movie based on that true-life event hits theaters. Called Indivisible (PG-13), the faith-based movie follows the story of Chaplain Darren Turner, who went on a 15-month tour to Iraq and returned home a stressed-out man, changed by what he experienced. Prior to his tour, Turner was filled with joy, but afterward, he was despondent and argumentative. Eventually, his wife told him to move out.
The movie stars Justin Bruening (Grey’s Anatomy) as Darren and Sarah Drew (Grey’s Anatomy, Mom’s Night Out) as Heather. Evans, who also helmed the 2010 faith-based movie The Grace Card, directed it.
The film begins with Darren diving into his role as a chaplain, naively believing that a 15-month tour won’t put any pressures on his family that he wasn’t ready to face. Soon, though, the stresses of war take their toll, and when he returns home, they only worsen. Heather wants help with housework and the kids but instead, an emotionally distant Darren believes his sole responsibility is to the men and women in his unit.
“I want to know why you somehow have it in you to show up for those men, when you refuse to do it for your own wife and kids!” she says.
The film is slow at times but remains entertaining and convicting. Bruening and Drew are impressive.
Indivisible shows the pressures that are regularly faced by military personnel. But its message is for all of us – military and non-military families. How often do we put our co-workers and friends in front of our family? Why do we sometimes act jovial and joy-filled around others but indifferent with our spouse and children? Are we ready to go to battle to make our relationships, marriages and families stronger?
“You don’t have to be in the military to identify with the messages of this film,” Evans said. “And we’ve seen that over and over at screenings that we’ve done around the country.”
Entertainment rating: 3 out of 5 stars. Family-friendly rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Rated PG-13 for some thematic material and war violence.
