We discuss Sound of Freedom, the 2023 Child Trafficking Movie that has everyone talking. This article contains minor spoilers.
The movie industry is a strange beast.
After a slew of box office disappointments, it seems that theatres across the world have finally managed to gain a little traction due to a pulling together of two blockbuster Summer releases that film fans on social media have called Barbenheimer.
Christopher Nolan’s three-hour character study Oppenheimer was offset by Greta Gerwig’s symphony of pink Barbie, resulting in cinemas across the world actually breathing a sigh of relief as seats in every hall filled up, buying them a reprieve from the lackluster offerings of the previous months.
Regardless of the films themselves, the industry needed an injection of adrenaline to stop them from flatlining, and it seems that this bizarre double bill managed to ignite the great cinema-going public with the result that both films made a lot of money, not just for the studios, but for cinemas themselves.
I imagine that you, dear reader, may have already watched at least one of these movies, and by doing so, you have helped the cinema industry to survive.
However, underneath the wave of excitement generated by the marketing machine behind both of these juggernauts, another film has also generated a buzz. Controversial forgotten thriller Sound of Freedom has been simmering under the radar, but also pulling in crowds and getting people back into theatres.
Here is a quick overview of the property that might spark your interest as we discuss the 2023 Child Trafficking movie that has had everyone talking.
Why is Sound of Freedom so controversial?
There seems to be a lot of controversy around this movie. First of all, the subject matter itself lends itself to controversy, and some critics have remarked that although the subject should be brought to the attention of people, it has to be done in the right way.
What the right way is, I could not answer, but Teresa Huizar, the CEO of the National Children’s Alliance, would state in an interview with Rolling Stone that “it was unhelpful and inaccurate to portray the trafficking of children as the snatching up of minors from public places-as Sound of Freedom does.”
Controversy also surrounds suggestions that the film has been “claimed” by the right, and the star of the film, Jim Caviezal, has stated some controversial theories about the nature of child trafficking that are supported by the political movement QAnon.
More controversy also seems to be around the film distributor Angel Studios, who managed through crowdfunding to buy the rights to the movie after it was shelved in a merger between Disney and Fox.
The film was in limbo until it was acquired by Angel Studios and given a limited release.
Angel Studios is a faith-based company, and this has also been seen as controversial by many commentators.
What’s the true story behind Sound of Freedom?
It seems that the film, a pretty low-budget thriller, has been thrust into the spotlight, not for its production values, acting, or direction, but for the controversy that surrounds the audience that has chosen to watch it. As a fan of film, it seems disappointing that its merits are being decided not by whether it is good or not but rather by the audience that is attending its screenings.
From a business point of view, though. it does appear that it is doing incredible box office.
For its fourteen and half million budget, it seems that the film has broken the hundred million dollar mark, but even this is mired in controversy.
The film instigated a “pay it forward” campaign that allowed people buying a ticket to also purchase extra tickets to allow people who could not afford to see the film to be able to see it.
That’s actually not a bad idea, friends of mine recently refused to pay twenty pounds for a ticket to see a recent Summer release as it was just too expensive.
Here is the premise of the film:
“Sound of Freedom, based on the incredible true story, shines a light on even the darkest of places. After rescuing a young boy from ruthless child traffickers, a federal agent learns the boy’s sister is still captive and decides to embark on a dangerous mission to save her. With time running out, he quits his job and journeys deep into the Colombian jungle, putting his life on the line to free her from a fate worse than death.”
Why has Sound of Freedom attracted conspiracy theories?
Perhaps the most controversial theory around the film comes from a theory surrounding child trafficking that seems to be QAnon adjacent. The theory seems to claim that a hidden secret society believes that the blood of young children contains “adrenochrome,” which has anti-aging properties. The theory goes on to say that the substance is being used by unknown buyers, who perpetuate the trade while remaining hidden.
With the film exposing the trafficking of children, people are eager to surmise that the film has been deliberately suppressed by the hidden cabals behind the alleged practice.
So it seems that Sound of Freedom is caught in a very complex series of narratives, but that has only helped make the film a very strong box office draw.
If you have watched the 2023 child trafficking movie, let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
