WeeklySA_AdminMISSION: Based on true story, Sounds of Freedom tops Indiana Jones on opening day – a new movie inspired by fate of two million children reportedly exploited in international sex-trafficking trade every year…
By Peter Pinedo and WSAM Correspondent
Washington, DC – Sound of Freedom, an anti-human-trafficking film made by Catholic filmmakers Eduardo Verastegui and Alejandro Monteverde, had a massively successful opening day in which it reached number one at the box office, beating out Disney’s fifth Indiana Jones instalment, and raking in nearly R267 million.
By yesterday, 1,5 million tickets had been sold in three days. The film producers targeting two million tickets sales. Sound of Freedom had an overall production budget of approximately R287 million and played at 2 600 theatres only on its July 4 opening day. Meanwhile, Disney’s Indiana Jones had a budget of R5,6 billion, played at many more theatres, and brought in nearly R230 million on the same day.
SA-born billionaire Elon Musk has reportedly reached out to Angel Studios make the film available on Twitter – a move that is likely push the movie viewership to astronomical figures.
Speaking with EWTN News Nightly’s Tracy Sabol in a June 30 interview, Verastegui, who produced and acted in Sound of Freedom, said the purpose of the film was to raise awareness about the two million children exploited every year in the international sex-trafficking trade.
In the film, Jim Caviezel, known for The Passion of the Christ and The Count of Monte Cristo, plays Homeland Security agent Tim Ballard, who quits his job and puts his life at risk to embark on a dangerous journey through the Colombian jungle to save hundreds of children from sex traffickers.
The film is based on a true story. In 2013, Ballard and several former government operatives left their jobs to found Operation Underground Railroad (OUR), which works around the world and in conjunction with law enforcement to rescue children from slavery and exploitation.
Verastegui, a Mexican-born actor who is best known for faith-based films such as Bella and Little Boy, explained that he met Ballard and his team, consisting of former Navy SEALs, FBI, and CIA agents, in Los Angeles eight years ago.
“When they explained to me in detail what these children are going through…” Verastegui said, “The pain, the suffering of these children, of course on one hand I was very inspired by their work; on the other hand, I was in shock, I was depressed, I couldn’t sleep for many days.” Ballard told him of how many of the kidnapped children are being “raped 10 to 15 times a day” and that “after many years they open them and sell their organs.”
“He told me the US is the number one consumer of child abuse, number one consumer of child sex. And Mexico is the number one provider,” Verastegui went on. “I was in shock, and I asked him: ‘How come, if the United States is the most powerful country in the world, if you guys have the money, the intelligence, the technology, the army, the police, everything, how come we don’t finish this problem here?’ And he said: ‘Because it’s not a priority.’”
Ballard told him that even though his group could save thousands of children, something more was needed to help the millions of more children suffering around the world. “I asked myself: ‘What can I do?’” said Verastegui.
As a filmmaker and actor, Verastegui said he has “a weapon of mass instruction and inspiration.” Verastegui felt called to build a movement to end child sex trafficking. “That’s when I realised I was called to make a movie, but not only a movie, I wanted to dedicate my life, along with Tim and many other soldiers around the world, warriors who are not afraid to fight, to eradicate child trafficking,” Verastegui said.
“We need a movement,” he said. “Why? Because then we can put pressure on government so this issue can become a priority. And when it becomes a priority, then together, society, government, entertainment, news media, we all together, we can end this terrible reality.”
The film was originally produced under 20th Century Fox and finished in 2018, but it was dropped after Disney bought the studio. Only after being acquired by the Christian “Angel Studios,” known for its TV show The Chosen, did Sound of Freedom finally make it into theatres. Tears to Pieces During a sit-down interview with The Christian Post last month, Ballard and Verástegui spoke of their strong desire to get the film in front of as many people as possible to encourage them to take a stand against trafficking.
“I love this line that Jim Caviezel says in the film. I didn’t say it in real life, but it definitely sums up my feelings. When he says to his boss at the US government: ‘This job tears you to pieces, and this is my one way to put those pieces back together,’” Ballard said.
After working for a decade as a DHS special agent, Ballard founded Operation Underground Railroad, which rescues children from sex trafficking rings around the world. He said his passion for rescue work began when he realized that many trafficked children live in a place where their governments do not have the resources to get them out. The film highlights some of Ballard’s inner struggles about that and what he does about it.
“Thanks to fans around the country, ‘Sound Of Freedom’ earned the top spot as America’s number one movie on Independence Day. We’ve received numerous messages telling us theatres are either packed or sold out. This movie has now taken on a life of its own to become something more than that, a grassroots movement,” Neal Harmon, CEO of Angel Studios The film has had shocking success and resonated with audiences across the country. Even Elon Musk took notice of the film, suggesting Angel Studios make Sound of Freedom available on Twitter.
To which Verastegui responded: “Thank you Elon, this is [a] great idea! God’s children are not for sale. Can’t wait for you to see the film. ¡Dios te bendiga hermano!” In a June interview with CNA, Caviezel said that Sound of Freedom “is the best film I’ve done since the Passion of the Christ.” – CNA
