Disclosure: I was sent a link to this movie in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
INDIVISIBLE is based on the extraordinary true story of Army Chaplain Darren Turner and his wife Heather. With a strong, faith-filled marriage, the Turners are ready to follow their calling: serving God, family, and country. Fresh from seminary and basic training, Chaplain Turner and his family arrive at Fort Stewart. Yet before the Turners can even unpack their new house, Darren is deployed to Iraq. Heather is left taking care of their three young children alone … as well as serving the families of the other deployed soldiers. Despite a desire to stay connected with their loved ones, the harsh realities of war take a daily toll over the course of the Battalion’s extended deployment. Meanwhile back home, babies are born, kids keep growing, and nerves are frayed with every late-night knock on the door. With deeply etched battle scars, the soldiers’ long-awaited homecoming is much different than any of their families anticipated. Carrying burdens the other can’t comprehend, the Turners must decide if they’re willing to face one more battle: the fight to save their marriage. From the director of The Grace Card and the studio that brought you Fireproof and War Room comes INDIVISIBLE, the story of one marriage … one family … under God. In theaters beginning October 26, the movie stars Sarah Drew, Justin Bruening, Jason George, Tia Mowry, and Madeline Carroll.
MY REVIEW
First of all, I’m a sucker for an inspirational, true story, and on that point, Indivisible delivers. The military theme of the film is perfect for the current state of affairs in our somewhat troubled country, and this movie is a reminder of what ultimately binds us all together. All too often, these kinds of films may not wish to deal with internal struggles and people losing their faith, but in this case, that is exactly what it does.
I was completely mesmerized by this film in spite of its somewhat slow beginning. I think when you choose to watch a true story especially, it may take some time to lay the groundwork and get the story going. But once the foundation was laid, this story never quit. I felt every kind of emotion imaginable, and the acting was impeccable from all involved.
I know faith-based films are often criticized because of a variety of things including production value and inauthenticity of story and acting, but I never found any of these to be an issue with this film. I had never heard this story before, and I had never even thought about the effects of PTSD on chaplains. We often think about how it affects those directly involved in battle, but what about the person employed by the army to be there any time a soldier dies or an issue crops up? While this man may not have faced certain death on a regular basis, he was looked upon as the paragon of faith by those to whom he was assigned. And watching what it did to him personally as well as to his family nearly broke my heart.
If you are a Hallmark fan, I advise you to go watch this movie! You’re going to recognize some familiar faces as well as one who will be in her first Christmas film for the network this year ( Tia Mowry). I didn’t find any of the scenes visually disturbing, but very young children may find this too difficult to understand or to watch. Also, while this is a faith-based movie, it is never preachy. Instead, it is real.
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Did you know that there is also a devotional and novella tied to the real story of Darren and Heather Turner? Check them out here: https://indivisiblemovie.com/resources