THIS film arrived in Australian cinemas with little warning. Director Alex Kendrick, who co-wrote it with his brother Stephen, is an ordained Baptist minister.

Its dramatic foundation comes from stresses and tensions in a middle-class black American family where “marriage has become a war zone and their daughter is collateral damage” (those words aren’t mine; they come from the film’s PR people).

Beleaguered wife (Priscilla C. Shirer) takes succour from Miss Clara (Karen Abercrombie), a committed older Christian with a profound belief in salvation, Jesus and the value of praying to resolve problems.

“War Room” doesn’t rush to declare its true and unabashed intention. Obviously, it won’t change the faith of practising Christians. I doubt it will convert non-believers or adherents of other faiths. My personal views about its message are for me alone except for friends with whom I chose to share.

At Capitol 6