Sound of Freedom sensitively reveals the gritty truth of child trafficking

Actor Jim Caviezel portrays Homeland Security Agent Jim Ballard in the film Sound of Freedom, which focuses on the horrors of the human trafficking of children. (Photo courtesy of Angel Studios)

By Ann Margaret Lewis

It isn’t often that a “faith-based” film approaches a topic in a way that appeals to a wider secular audience. In an earlier review I wrote on the film Father Stu, I mentioned that problem with the hope we’d see more films that could bridge that gap. Most faith films “preach to the choir” and suffer from poor writing and production value.

Sound of Freedom, however, is one of the exceptions.

Starring Catholic actor Jim Caviezel (The Passion of the Christ, Frequency), the film tells the true story of Homeland Security Agent Tim Ballard, who quit his job to save children from slavery. He is the founder of Operation Underground Railroad—and savior to hundreds of children from the horrors of human trafficking. The film is suspenseful and well-acted, with the production artistry worthy of a major film release.

Caviezel’s performance in this film is impassioned, powerful and believable. He and his fellow actors Academy Award winner Mira Sorvino (The Final Cut, After Ever Happy), Bill Camp (12 Years A Slave, Joker), José Zúñiga (Twilight, “American Crime Story”) and Eduardo Verástegui (Bella, For Greater Glory), who is also a producer for the film, all gave performances that maintained the gravity of the topic at hand without shirking on energy—even those with smaller roles. The child actors were also very talented, and scenes involving them were orchestrated with great sensitivity.

Written and directed by Alejandro Monteverde (Little Boy and Toronto International Film Festival winner for Bella) the film’s script and production are well-done. The filmography is often masterful with eye-popping scenery of the Columbian jungles.

Angel Studios, the media company and film distribution studio that uses crowdfunding to finance its other productions such as “The Chosen” series, is offering an opportunity for Sound of Freedom supporters and viewers to “pay it forward” so those who might not be able to see the movie due to financial constraints may see it for free.

On June 13, Elon Musk acknowledged the importance of this film and its topic through a tweet asking Sound of Freedom producers to put the film on Twitter free for a short time, “or just ask people to subscribe to support [we would not keep any funds].” Eduardo Verástegui responded on Twitter that it would be a good idea, but plans have not yet been finalized.

Angel Studios hopes to have 2 million people see the film in theaters throughout the film’s opening week starting on July 3 to bring awareness to the estimated 2 million children trafficked globally each year.

The film is releasing in several theaters in central and southern Indiana beginning on July 3. To see if the film will show at a theater near you, to purchase tickets or to “pay it forward,” go to Angel.com/sof. †