Jim Caviezel tries to rescue child victims of sex trafficking in this true story-inspired and controversial film.
Sound of Freedom, released 10 days ago by our neighbors to the south, managed against all odds to climb to number one at the box office; Before Mission: Impossible hit theaters, sure, but still. For what? Because the feature film is a Christian production (what Americans call a faith film), it caters to a niche audience, not to mention that it’s not free of controversy.
Based on a true story, Sound of Freedom begins with a seemingly mundane but terrifying scene in which Roberto (Jose Zuniga) happily agrees to Katy-Gisselle (Yessica Borroto Perryman) having a photoshoot with Rocio (Cristal Aparicio), her 11- year-olds, makes daughter and her little brother Miguel, four and a half years old. Lo and behold, when it’s time to pick up the children in the city of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, they’re gone.
The viewer is then transported to Calexico, California. Homeland Security agent Tim Ballard (Jim Caviezel, very good) catches a pedophile who is uploading pictures of children to a website… Among the youths are Roberto’s two children. Ballard has a lot to be proud of, having arrested 288 pedophiles over the course of his career. But he released no children. By entering the circle of pedophiles, he manages to arrest the man who is holding Miguel. He then goes in search of Rocio and teams up with Vampiro (Bill Camp), a former cartel member who is now rescuing children.
Alejandro Monteverde’s direction is effective, the scenario created by Rod Barr and the filmmaker is obviously designed to evoke emotion and revolt. Because if we know the extent of the child sex trade – the feature film gives the numbers and also underlines that it has been in full swing for a number of years, with the United States being the main consumer country – we cannot freeze.
Apparently, Tim Ballard glossed over the facts a little since the reality of the rescue depicted in the film was less heroic. Yes, the reality of child trafficking is not always the one presented here. Yes, Operation Underground Railroad, Tim Ballard’s organization, is funded by Glenn Beck, one of those FOX network far-right columnists.
Yes, Jim Caviezel and Tim Ballard privately spout hallucinating, mind-blowing QAnon conspiracy theories not found in the film. But let that not divert attention from the Sound of Freedom, an important, vital issue from which we cannot get away scot-free.
Sound of Freedom hits theaters across the province on July 14.
Rating: 3 out of 5