Sound of Freedom - Official Trailer (2023) Sound of Freedom, based on the incredible true story, shines a light on even the darkest of places. After rescuing a young boy ...
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I've just seen the surprise blockbuster movie "Sound of Freedom."
It's the story of Tim Ballard, the ex-CIA, and Homeland Security operative whose real-life crusade against child sex trafficking is the film's subject.
The Angel Studio's release on July 4th surprised everyone by far outgrossing "Indiana Jones," even though "Sound of Freedom's" budget was by comparison extremely low, and despite its depending on word of mouth for much of its publicity.
Like most viewers, I found the film exceptionally moving, its acting splendid, and its cinematography of the highest quality. I'm not surprised that some are even talking about Academy Awards.
(By the way, despite "liberal" criticisms, "Sound of Freedom" made no mention whatsoever of QAnon, conspiracy, Pizzagate, adrenochrome, or political parties either Democrat or Republican. There was no hint of any of that.)
Instead, "Sound of Freedom" straightforwardly focuses on one topic, child sex trafficking. It accordingly summarizes itself in six spare words: "God's children are not for sale." Others have expressed its imperative in just three: "Connect the dots." The first summary reveals the film's shocking content and (understated) faith perspective.
However, the film's dot connection uncovers a suspiciously limited political perspective. Intentionally or not, its nearly invisible political viewpoint ends up subtly heroizing the CIA, Homeland Security, and the Colombian police, while vilifying "rebels" against the corrupt authority all three represent.
In what follows, let me show you what I mean by (1) briefly acknowledging the deplorable problem addressed by "Sound of Freedom," (2) highlighting the film's suspicious CIA connections, (3) its missing dots, and (4) suggesting the "Sound's" promise for stimulating dialog across liberal-conservative divides.
Child Sex Trafficking
To begin with, the "Sound of Freedom" is so moving because it is factual, not fiction. It describes a huge problem it identifies as the fastest growing criminal enterprise the world has ever seen. In fact, child sex trafficking, it says, already grosses more money than international arms trafficking. Its annual income will soon surpass that of the worldwide drug trade.
Moreover, and as noted above, "Sound of Freedom's" main protagonist is also real and highly admirable. As movingly portrayed by Jim Caviezel (of "Passion of the Christ" and "Count of Monte Cristo" fame), Tim Ballard joins the CIA and later Homeland Security as an act of patriotism following 9/11.
Significantly, Ballard's fundamentalist Christian faith made him especially attractive to Homeland Security which, he says, preferred such commitment from its agents in the War on Terror.
Eventually, Ballard's duties introduce him to the issue of child sex trafficking. It so hooks him that he ends up risking all to combat its evil. Months before qualifying for a lifetime CIA pension eventually worth millions, he decides to leave the agency when it identifies as unacceptable overreach his desire to continue "rescuing Honduran kids in Colombia."
CIA Connections
Despite such idealistic motivations, "Sound of Freedom's" links to the CIA and Homeland Security as well as those with apolitical Christian fundamentalism raised uncomfortable questions for me.
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