Thumbing its nose at Hollywood, the independent film "Sound of Freedom" has emerged as a cinematic triumph, captivating audiences and coming in huge at the box office. The film about the growing crisis of child sex slavery soared past $124 million, smashing estimates from an industry that didn’t want to touch the issue.
Without support from Tinseltown or the mainstream media because of its exposure of the international child trafficking plague, the road to bringing the film to theaters has been long and arduous.
The movie is a gripping drama based on actual events, shedding light on the dark world of child slavery and the heroic efforts of Tim Ballard, a former government agent who risked his life rescuing children in South America. He was working on sex trafficking cases in Honduras when he was ordered home by the Department of Homeland Security. Instead, he quit the government to continue rescuing children in what has grown to be an estimated $150 billion global trade with the United States being the biggest customer.
The film stars Jim Caviezel as Ballard, Mira Sorvino, and Bill Camp and has garnered critical acclaim for its powerful story and emotional performances. It centers around two kidnapped children whose case haunted Ballard in a job that “tears you apart” until he was able to bring them home. “Do you hear that?” his co-star asks as a group of rescued children sing happily. “That’s the sound of freedom.”
The movie's journey to the big screen was filled with obstacles and delays. Despite its compelling subject matter and star-studded cast, the Sound of Freedom faced challenges with funding and distribution due to its dismantling of two prevalent narratives: the U.S. border is secure and there is no exploitation of the children, many unaccompanied by their parents, being transported into the U.S. by the hundreds of thousands.
The mainstream media resisted the film and questioned its motives, some labeling it politically motivated or even conspiratorial. The opposition hindered the film's progress, making it difficult to secure publicity and promotion. A check of Google and other search engines finds relentless attacks on Ballard and the film’s motives, criticisms that are pushing fans to the box office in even greater numbers.
The movie even got a boost from former President Trump who hosted a private screening at his Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, NJ. “Even though the fake news tried to ignore it, the film has been a national sensation and a colossal success at the box office,” he said in a special podcast. “It’s a very important film, movie, documentary, all wrapped into one. It’s really about an issue that has to be discussed,” Trump says, pointing out the actions he took to secure the border and combat human trafficking which, he said, was at the lowest level when he took office, but has now “gone through the roof.”
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Meanwhile, Disney's "Dial of Destiny," the latest installment in the popular Indiana Jones franchise, was poised to dominate the box office. With a massive promotion budget, a well-established fan base, and the star power of Harrison Ford, the film was expected to be a blockbuster hit. However, Sound of Freedom emerged as a second-place competitor, capturing the attention of audiences seeking a thought-provoking and socially relevant cinematic experience. A Right-Wing backlash also helped as Conservatives saw it as a way to stick it to Hollywood, especially Disney, which have been routinely introducing Woke characters and themes into films as part of a political movement to push the country left. Supporters believe the movie’s success is due to a “Great Awakening” as the public comes to grips with the consequences of President Biden’s policies.
In publicizing the movie, Caviezel says that 300,000 children under the age of 18 were lured into the sex trafficking business in the United States. “We are the biggest consumers of child trafficking and pornography in the world,” he said. “The United States—the home of the free, land of the brave. This is ridiculous. And so the film is a threat.”
After leaving government service, Ballard founded the anti-trafficking group Operation Underground Railroad with a mission of stopping child sex trafficking, which they say has become the world’s fastest-growing criminal enterprise.
Despite the challenges, Sound of Freedom found support from independent filmmakers, grassroots organizations, and a passionate fan base. Through crowdfunding campaigns and private investors, the film secured the funding necessary to complete production which started over five years ago. In a special message following the film, Caviezel returns to the screen to make an impassioned plea to the audience to help expose the horrors of child exploitation. He encouraged viewers to invite their friends to see the movie and asked them to buy tickets in a special program that will allow others to see it for free. Why? he repeats a critical line from the film, “Because God’s children are not for sale.”
For tickets, go to www.angel.com.