INDIVISIBLE
US, 2018, 119 minutes, Colour.
Sarah Drew, Justin Bruening, Jason George, Tia Marie- Hardrict, Skye P.Marshall, Tanner Stine, Madeline Carroll, Michael O' Neill, Eric Close.
Directed by David P.Grant.
We learn very early that the “indivisible of the title refers to the United States and the Pledge of Allegiance.
In fact, this is a very patriotic film with some substantial sequences in Iraq, including some action from the American troops and rebels in villages.
However, it should be said very early in a review that this is an American faith-based film. For more than a decade now, the United States has produced quite a number of faith-based films, designed especially for religious audiences, church-going audiences. They are intended as inspirational.
Most reviewers and most audiences are not attracted to faith-based films, finding difficulty in the God-language, the sentiment, the touch of preaching. However, it should be noted that the inspirational film is in itself a particular film genre (like romance, thriller, action show) which has its own particular conventions as do the other genres. The faith-based film needs to be appreciated for its intentions and how the intentions are communicated on screen. The faith-based film is meant to be edifying.
Some years ago The Grace Card was an above-average faith-based film. The director, David P.Grant, has now directed Indivisible, also an above-average faith-based film.
It is based on a true story (with photos of the central characters and their family included in the final credits). It is a story of chaplains. Even to that extent, it offers interesting material, most audiences not pausing to think what the role of the military chaplain is, what demands are made, what is the overall effect of being in support in combat, that chaplains could be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Which is what happens in this film.
While the director and writers have a religious background and the film is supported by various Baptist churches, the cast are better known than usual, having featured in a lot of television work, television series. Justin Bruening is Darren, previously a college chaplain, with a Masters in Ministry degree, sent to Iraq and to a base there in 2007. Sarah Drew plays his wife, Heather, mother of three children, having shared in her husband's Ministry. They live a happy and committed life.
However, across the street, Tonya and her two daughters are harassed by her angry and drinking husband. There is also a young unmarried woman with a son, criticised by her mother. And a young couple, she diffident and pregnant for the second time, fearful for her husband in action.
Darren, the angry man, Michael, Shonda, the unmarried mother, and the young man, Lance, find themselves together in Iraq. The commanding officer in Iraq, before the day's work, or before going into action, advises Darren to do what you do. Darren is a scripture man, quoting the Psalms, especially, very aptly and briefly though, interestingly, not referring to Gospel stories except for Jesus' crucifixion. Michael, on the other hand, advises Darren not to mess with his life, thinking that that is what chaplains do. And, after a fateful mission with deaths, Lance is very angry, asking all the familiar questions about God, not intervening to save people, allowing them to suffer.
Intercut with all the Iraq scenes are sequences concerning the wives, bonding, doing support work for their husbands, comforting otherwise in distress, visiting after a wife has received the sad news of her husband's death. There is a focus also on the children, Michael has teenage daughters, Darren's three children are devoted to him, one an asthmatic who has some crises, Heather trying to do her best to raise the three children by herself. One consolation in contemporary warfare is communication by phone and, especially, communication by Skype.
Darren experiences vehicles under sniper attack, his hands begin to tremble, he writes a diary, records himself talking, tapes for Heather to look at should he die.
There are harrowing moments in the latter part of the film, especially with Darren's reaction on return, distant, cold, even Heather telling him that he is mean. He does not cope well with the post-traumatic stress.
However, as we know, this is an inspirational film and there will be a positive ending. Almost needless to say, Darren and Heather have a continued ministry, Darren resuming his military chaplaincy, but their both working with soldiers, their wives, and stress.
Edifying and interesting.
1. A Faith-based film, its impact, target audience, use of the conventions of the inspirational film?
2. Based on a true story, the photos of the family during the final credits?
3. The title, the American pledge, patriotism?
4. The American military, history and traditions, involvement in Iraq?
5. The presence of chaplains, their role, the effect? The Baptist backing for this film? Baptist services, the baptism, the Church?
6. Introduction to the family, Darren, good father, the kids and their play, warriors, Heather and Darren, the three children? Darren in his background, the Masters in Theology, his chaplaincy at University?
7. The neighbours across the street, Tonya and her daughters, Mike and his drinking, his anger, the scene at the door?
8. Introduction to Lance and Amanda, the baby, his enthusiasm, her work, diffidence, pregnant, his being called up and its effect on her?
9. The troops assembling for the bus, the farewells, going to Iraq?
10. The term in Iraq, 15 months? The scenes of the desert, the military bases, the villages and streets, the shops, the rooftops, the attacks and the violence? The troop vehicles, the machine-gunning, warding off enemies?
11. The issues of Iraq, the invasion, the American presence? The hostilities?
12. Darren and his interview with Chaplain Rodgers, the backing, arriving in Iraq, the tent? Settling in? The encounter with Mike and Mike not wanting Darren to mess in his life?
The references to the chaplain, “do what you do? The prayers, the blessings, the reference to Psalms rather than Gospel incidents? Jesus in the sacrifice of the crucifixion?
13. Shonda, seen with her son, the ousting of the father, her mother and her control? Shonda and her work? Devoted to Darren, supportive?
14. Darren and the men, his going out on mission, the attack, the dead girl and her father, his thinking of his children? Darren talking with the men, some sympathetic, talking about those who had died, Lance and his hostility, the perennial questions about God and allowing suffering and death? His telling off Darren? The later apology, the continued talking, bonding, friendship, Darren giving Lance the armour medal? His baptism? Going on mission, in the turret with the machine gun? Darren and the effect of being in the mission, sitting in the vehicle, the snipers, the machine-gunning? The further mission, his death, Mike helping Lance, telling Darren that Lance was happy as he died, knowing where he was going? Michael losing his leg?
15. The inter-cutting of scenes at home with those in Iraq? The details of the life of the wives, their concern, bonding together? The drama with the fair, the maze and the daughter and her asthma, going to hospital, the tents phone calls? Her having her medal-armour?
16. Mike, his drinking and anger, post-traumatic stress disorder, clashing with his wife, his daughters? Resistant to Darren, the basketball scene? The later friendship, sharing the mission, talking, helping Lance, losing his leg?
17. The services, the celebration of Christmas, Santa Claus, the stockings from back home? The Easter celebration, the focus on the crucifixion and resurrection, Lance’ s baptism?
18. The portrait of the wives, at home, rearing the children, feeling alone, phone calls and the benefit of Skype? The intercutting of the episodes with Iraq? Heather in the group, Tonya, befriending Amanda, listening to her, desperate and pregnant? Visiting the wife after she had been told the death of her husband?
19. Darren, his hands beginning to tremble, keeping his diary, the video messages in case he should die?
20. Completion of the mission, the return, the effect, Darren and his anger, his distance from the family, God questions, his nightmares and reliving Iraq, is a feeling that he was cold, mean the distant? The effect on the family? On himself? Doing the garden work? Going to see Chaplain Rodgers, the counselling? Heather and her hurt? The children reading the diary and his anger with them? His giving the diary to Heather, the videos, her understanding? The Parents Day, her explaining to the children why she was a photographer, memories of meeting Darren? His presence, talking, the flowers?
21. His being recalled, Rodgers supporting him, Heather supporting him, the phone call?
22. The scene of the award, the reconciliation?
23. Issues of faith, commitment, philosophical and theological questions about God and suffering, prayer, services, listening to the men, bonding and their appreciating it and changing?
24. The image of God to be taken from this film? The belief that something good could emerge from such suffering and pain?
