The sound of freedom deserves applause

Hollywood insiders were stunned when Sound of Freedom, a low-budget message movie from Angel Studios, soared to the top of the box office after its July 4 opening. Going head-to-head with blockbusters like Indiana Jones, the film struck a chord with audiences everywhere it played. Some viewers even gave the film a standing ovation. More importantly, they all urged their family and friends to see this inspiring film.

Jim Caviezel stars in Sound of Freedom

Caviezel, who played Jesus in The Passion of the Christ, is cast perfectly as former Homeland Security agent Tim Ballard. After spending 12 years helping to catch and convict paedophiles, the devoted husband and father of six felt the need to do more. He wanted to save children enslaved by multi-billion dollar sex trafficking. He gained the trust of a pedophile in California, who unwittingly helped him meet and rescue eight-year-old Miguel.

The boy had been taken from his father in Honduras and sold to a pedophile in Mexico. When Ballard learned that the boy’s 11-year-old sister was also a victim, he decided to release her as well. With the support of his wife, Ballard eventually quit his job to focus on these endeavors. His resolute quest to save innocent victims is at the heart of the film.

Outsmarting sex traffickers

Ballard finds help from an unexpected source when Vampira (Bill Camp), a former Colombian drug cartel money launderer, agrees to introduce him to some sordid criminal contacts. The unlikely duo set up a sting operation pretending to open a members-only club for wealthy pedophiles on a remote island. They manage to pull off several exciting rescues, such as the release of 55 children brought by sex traffickers to their secret island.

When Ballard learns that Miguel’s sister (Cristal Aparicio) has been sold to a rebel camp hidden deep in the jungle, he and Vampira embark on a dangerous boat trip downstream to find her. Posing as a doctor carrying vaccines, Ballard is able to infiltrate the camp where she is being held and attempt to rescue her.

While some critics derided the hokey film and dialogue such as Ballard stating that God’s children are not for sale, the film touched the hearts of audiences. Sound of Freedom forced us to focus on the horrors of child sex trafficking. Although the majority of young victims are from Third World countries, none are safe from these predators.

The sound of freedom

The film was directed by Alejandro Monteverde with a screenplay by him and Rod Barr. Rated PG-13, it draws large crowds to theaters across the United States. It features a terrific performance from Jim Caviezel and other protagonists. It also features superb cinematography by Gorka Gomez Andreu, and is produced and distributed by Angel Studios (The Chosen). Kudos to them, and the rest of the cast and crew who brought us this gripping story. The real hero of the story, Tim Ballard, has now created Operation Underground Railroad, a non-profit organization that works tirelessly to help save child sex traffickers.

Sound of Freedom took on a life of its own. We were getting messages from all over the country telling us of packed houses, sold-out houses and spontaneous standing ovations for the film in many places, said Brandon Purdie, head of theatrical distribution at Angel Studios. We are deeply grateful to AMC, Cinemark, Regal and all of our hardworking theater partners and their theater staff for working with us to meet the growing demand for this film and having the courage to release it for the busiest film season of the year.