Lyla Lindsey
The anti-trafficking film Sound of Freedom is coming to Australian cinemas on 24 August 2023. The movie, which is based on a true story, follows a federal agent who, after rescuing a young boy from ruthless child traffickers, embarks on a mission to save the boy's sister. The film has received high praise from audiences, with a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, but has also been met with controversy due to its heavy subject matter and questionable portrayal of human and child trafficking.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Movie Title | Sound of Freedom |
| Release Date in Australia | 4th of January, 2024 |
| Genre | Drama, Biography |
| Director | Alejandro Monteverde |
| Lead Actors | Jim Caviezel, Mira Sorvino, Bill Camp |
| Plot | The movie tells the story of Tim Ballard, a former CIA agent who quits his job to rescue children from sex trafficking. |
| Production Company | Lighthouse Pictures |
| Runtime | 115 minutes |
| Rating | TBA |
| Trailer | A trailer has been released and is available online. |
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'Sound of Freedom' release date in Australia
The anti-trafficking movie "Sound of Freedom" was released in Australian cinemas on 24 August 2023. It is also available to stream on YouTube, Prime Video, and Apple TV.
The film is written and directed by Alejandro Monteverde and stars Jim Caviezel as Tim Ballard, a former US Homeland Security Agent. It is based on the true story of Ballard, who creates a charity to combat child traffickers. In the film, Caviezel's character takes on a crime syndicate in Colombia after children are trafficked by virtual strangers. This depiction has been criticised by human and child trafficking experts, who say that while people are trafficked this way, it is not the typical way it is done.
"Sound of Freedom" is the biggest faith-based film of the year and has generated immense popularity. It is a crowd-funded film that has outperformed big-budget films like "Mission: Impossible" and "Indiana Jones". The film has a rare 100% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The film is an emotional and harrowing watch, with poignant cinematography and haunting acting. It includes some actual footage of real-life abductions and is not suitable for children. The Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) has classified the movie and provided consumer advice.
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The movie's plot
"Sound of Freedom" is a 2023 film written and directed by Alejandro Monteverde and released by Angel Studios. It is based on the true story of Homeland Security agent Tim Ballard, played by Jim Caviezel. The film follows Caviezel's character as he embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue a young boy and his sister from ruthless child traffickers in Colombia.
The film has received mixed reviews, with some critics praising its powerful message and emotional impact, while others have criticised its technical aspects, including the script, acting, and direction. It has been called a suspenseful call to action against human trafficking by some, while others have deemed it politically charged and culture-war propaganda. Despite the criticism, the film has performed well at the box office, ranking in the top 10 in U.S. box office sales for 2023 and outperforming big-budget films like "Mission: Impossible" and "Indiana Jones".
The film has also sparked some controversy due to its depiction of child trafficking, with arguments that it misrepresents the realities of the issue and undermines the efforts of Colombian authorities and organisations working to combat it. However, many viewers have found the film compelling and eye-opening, offering a different perspective on the global issue of child trafficking.
"Sound of Freedom" was released in the UAE on 17 August 2023, followed by releases in South Africa, Iceland, Lithuania, Australia, and New Zealand on 24 August. It was later released in several other countries, including the UK and Ireland on 1 September and Spain on 11 October. The film is also available to stream on YouTube, Prime Video, Apple TV, and the Prime Video Store.
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Critical reception
"Sound of Freedom" is a 2023 film written and directed by Alejandro Monteverde. It is based on the true story of Homeland Security agent Tim Ballard, played by Jim Caviezel. The film follows Ballard's journey to rescue a young boy and his sister from child traffickers.
The film received a mixed reception from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a score of 57% based on 83 reviews, with an average rating of 5.9/10. The general consensus on the site is that the film is:
> "An effective and suspenseful call to action against human trafficking, yet not free of issues in its depiction of the sensitive subject matter."
Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, gave the film a score of 36 out of 100, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews". The film has faced criticism for its depiction of child trafficking, with some arguing that it may undermine the efforts of Colombian authorities and organisations working to combat the issue.
However, the film has also received positive reviews. Owen Gleiberman of Variety gave a favourable review, as did Film Threat's Alan Ng, who wrote:
> "Sound of Freedom is almost as if you're listening to Tim Ballard tell his incredible story of rescuing children and having it dramatized onscreen. It's heartfelt, informative, and inspiring."
National Review's Madeleine Kearns called the film "provocative and gripping" and faith-based reviews were largely positive.
The film was a surprise hit at the box office, ranking in the top 10 in US box office sales for 2023 and outperforming big-budget films like "Mission: Impossible" and "Indiana Jones". It made $127 million during its first three weeks in US theatres and crossed the $100 million mark at the box office on its 16th day of release.
The film was released in Australia on 24 August 2023, following its successful US launch.
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Controversy and criticism
The 2023 film "Sound of Freedom" has been mired in controversy and criticism. The film is based on the story of Homeland Security agent Tim Ballard, who goes on a mission to rescue children from sex trafficking in Colombia. It has been criticised for featuring misleading depictions of child exploitation and for playing into right-wing conspiracies, particularly QAnon.
The film has been labelled a "QAnon-tinged thriller" by Rolling Stone, reflecting reviews in left-leaning outlets. The leading actor, Jim Caviezel, has made a string of conspiratorial comments, and the film's marketing played heavily on concerns about child trafficking, with promotional clips urging people to send the message that "God's children are not for sale." Caviezel and Ballard have both openly supported QAnon, a conspiracy theory that claims Donald Trump is fighting an elite cabal of satanic paedophiles.
The film's production company, Angel Studios, has denied fuelling conspiratorial thinking, with president Jordan Harmon stating, "Anyone who has seen this movie knows it has nothing to do with conspiracy theories." Angel Studios is a Utah-based media company that specialises in crowdfunding original films and TV series with a faith leaning. The film was crowdfunded by nearly 7,000 investors, who contributed $5 million to its marketing, and it has been widely embraced by conservative and right-wing commentators.
Despite the controversy, the film has been a surprise box office hit, outperforming big-budget films like "Mission: Impossible" and "Indiana Jones." It has received positive reviews from some outlets, with Variety calling it a "solidly made and disquieting thriller" with "a Christian undercurrent." However, other reviews have been less favourable, with Flicks commenting on the film's "relentless messaging" and lack of "procedural logic."
The release of "Sound of Freedom" in Australia on 24 August 2023, following its success in the US, has sparked similar debates about its content and impact. With a rare 100% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes but criticism from reviewers, the film has divided audiences and critics.
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Streaming platforms
The anti-trafficking film "Sound of Freedom" was released in Australian cinemas on 24 August 2023. It is also available to stream on YouTube, Prime Video, Apple TV, and the Apple TV Store.
The film is written and directed by Alejandro Monteverde and stars Jim Caviezel as Tim Ballard, a real-life US Homeland Security Agent who creates a charity to combat child traffickers. It is based on the true story of Homeland Security agent Tim Ballard, who, after rescuing a young boy from ruthless child traffickers, learns that the boy's sister is still captive and embarks on a dangerous mission to save her.
"Sound of Freedom" is produced by Angel Studios and is the media service's second crowd-funded project, the first being the TV series "The Chosen," which is available to stream on Netflix and the Chosen App. Angel Studios' SVP Global Distribution, Jared Geesey, commented on the film's international release:
> "Since Sound of Freedom launched in the U.S., demand has been building around the world in dozens of regions and languages. Child trafficking is a global issue, and we hope to build on the incredible momentum here in the states and share the film’s powerful message worldwide."
The film has received criticism for its controversial subject matter and potential insensitivity in its depiction of human and child trafficking. However, it has also been well-received by audiences, ranking in the top 10 in U.S. box office sales for 2023 and achieving a rare 100% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
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Frequently asked questions
The movie Sound of Freedom was released in Australian cinemas on 24 August 2023.
Sound of Freedom is available to stream on YouTube, Prime Video, Apple TV Store, and Prime Video Store. It is also available across cinemas in Australia.
Sound of Freedom is an anti-trafficking movie based on the true story of Homeland Security agent Tim Ballard, who creates a charity to combat child traffickers.
