The Sound of Freedom
The Sound of Freedom
Distributor: Angel Studios
Streaming: Amazon Prime
The Sound of Freedom is based on a true story with Jim Caviezel portraying the real-life Tim Ballard, a former agent who went rogue to stop sex trafficking and rescue one man’s two children. It is a story of how one agent is transformed from someone who stops pedophiles into someone who rescues those enslaved. One could argue that doing the former makes the latter happen. There is a difference. This film shows it. As a nurse, I am part of the clean-up crew. We deal with the aftermath of the atrocities committed. This story centers on the intervention which allows not only the capture of the criminal sycophants engaged in these atrocities, but also and arguably more importantly, rescues those trapped in slavery. To quote Tim Ballard/Jim Caviezel in the movie, “God’s children are not for sale.”
The Sound of Freedom’s box office gross was over $180 million in the United States alone which makes it one of the highest grossing indie films in recent years. It also surpassed the gross box office big budget films such as the latest Indiana Jones and even the Tom Cruise Mission Impossible - Dead Reckoning. That in and of itself is astounding. The film was completed in 2019 and both Fox and Disney refused to distribute it. I imagine when they saw the box office numbers they regretted that decision.
The film’s in theater release by Angel Studios was July 4th. It is now streaming on Amazon Prime which is where I watched it a few weeks ago. I was told by numerous people to watch this movie in July 2023, however I honestly wasn’t sure I could take the large screen visualization of such a heartrending subject matter. I am a visual person. I see images long after my first-hand experience of them is over. I can still see every patient of mine who passed away. They are eternally in my memory. I knew my heart and soul couldn’t watch a movie about sex trafficking on the silver screen. That said, I applaud everyone who did. Working near the border in public health nursing, I know we give pregnancy tests to elementary aged children who cross our borders. I know what happens to women and children on their treks through other countries to enter this one. It makes me nauseated and breaks my heart.
For weeks now, I have not been able to get this movie out of my thoughts. One of the horrifying statistics shown at the end of the film is that there are more slaves today than when it was legal. Another shocking statistic is that America is the leading destination for this villainy. Which begs the question, how did America fall so low that pedophilia doesn’t simply exist here, but thrives? How is America, no each and every American citizen not leading the charge against this atrocity? I keep wondering what house in my town is part of this atrocious criminal injustice. Who is trapped in slavery near me without my awareness? What can we do to stop it?
Because, God’s children should not be sold. Ever.
