“Sound of Freedom” places its message about child sex trafficking above its storytelling. The film’s primary objective is to evoke a heightened awareness of the horrors associated with this issue. It achieves this by presenting disturbing scenes of endangered children, manipulated by abhorrent adults, and ensuring their faces leave an indelible mark. The central character is Tim Ballard, an American man whose unwavering compassion leads him to leave his job at Homeland Security just months before earning a pension. He embarks on an undercover mission in Colombia to rescue children. Jim Caviezel delivers a gentle yet intensely serious performance, reminiscent of his portrayal of Jesus Christ in Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ.”
While the story is based on true events, it struggles to come alive due to its heavy-handed approach. Director Alejandro Monteverde meets the basic requirements for a message-driven film, but falls short of achieving its ambitious cinematic aspirations. If “Sound of Freedom” were less focused on its importance, it could transcend being a moody film and become truly compelling.
On its own, “Sound of Freedom” is a solemn and sluggish experience, lacking a distinctive narrative perspective. Caring about the safety of children is an easy cause for any decent human being to support. Previous films like “Gone Baby Gone” and “Taken” have successfully capitalized on this tension, effortlessly drawing the audience into stories where children are abducted and placed in peril. However, the truncated storytelling by co-writers Monteverde and Rod Barr neglects to flesh out its ideas or characters, resulting in Tim Ballard’s slow and agonizing search for two specific children (Miguel, played by Lucás Ávila, and Rocío, played by Cristal Aparicio) lacking intensity. The framing of the film as a “true story” adds some edge initially, but ultimately loses its impact. Visit flixtor movies for more!
Summary: The incredible true story of a former government agent turned vigilante who embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue hundreds of children from sex traffickers.
Countries: United StatesLanguages: English, Spanish
