I watched the movie “Sound of Freedom” in the cinema. What you see may be shocking, and that’s not a good thing.

This week, the film “Sound of Freedom” was released in Russia, telling about the terrible topic of child trafficking.

It is the first independent film to gross more than $100 million at the US box office since the pandemic began.

We have already attended the premiere and are ready to share our impressions and confidence. Shocking? Depressing? Makes you see another world? First things first.

The film may not have made it to the big screens

What is the movie about: Sound of Freedom has been announced as a true-to-life adaptation that tells the story of Tim Ballard (played by Jim Caviezel), a child trafficking agent who leaves the Department of Homeland Security to rescue government children.

The story of the film’s creation is no less dramatic than the story of the film’s characters. The film was completed in 2018, after which a distribution deal was struck with 20th Century Fox. But when Walt Disney bought the studio, the film was shelved. Probably “mouse” the company did not want to have anything to do with the theme of the rise in the new product. Lawmakers bought the film’s distribution rights from the studios.

Thanks to funding through crowdfunding rather than backing from major studios, Sound of Freedom has finally made its way to theaters.

Look hard, but there is a nuance

The film begins with the last scene, where we meet brother and sister – Rozio and Miguel. They find themselves victims of human traffickers after their father is deceived into thinking the children are auditioning for a modeling career. In reality, moments like these seem powerful in the film.

As you might expect, we are in for a shocking, tragic thriller about saving children. At first glance, Sound of Freedom may seem like a film with noble intentions, talking about important issues in today’s crazy world. But the plot, supposedly based on some events, unfortunately, is in England, where the concepts of tension or suspense are absent.

When you start to analyze it more carefully, you discover many problems.

The project is suffering from an extremely difficult and dire condition. Characters often behave in unrealistic ways, with actions and dialogue that are both forced and unnatural. One of the main shortcomings is the approach to the problem of child trafficking.

Instead of presenting complex and realistic situations, the film portrays the world in black and white. The viewer is presented with villains as absolute monsters, and heroes as white knights.

In the end the film turns out fictional tradition original events, which makes it less reliable and less meaningful. In some places you simply stop believing what is happening. It looks exaggerated, as if the scenes were filmed simply to evoke electric emotions.

The main character is disgustingly pros and that’s the problem

The main character does not evoke sympathy from the viewer. His character seems one-dimensional and extremely developed. At some point something strange happens to him. He seems to be a wizard who instantly becomes an expert in child trafficking and assembles a team of specialists. This is a similar story from comics, where the hero gains superpowers at one point. Seriously, how did this happen?

For some unknown reason, Tim depicted as too perfect characterfor whom everything is surprisingly smooth – no obstacles that he could not cope with, no problems that he could not solve.

Form strange connections with a disgusting pedophile? Quite possible! Get funding for your personal mission after leaving the CIA? Easier than steamed turnips. Infiltrate terrorist group bases in the Amazon forest? It seems like anyone can do this!

Here somewhere the normal dose of realism and authenticity was lost. Tim’s character lacks complexity, and his successes are exceptionally too easy. This skews the balance and takes the life out of the film. The hero must not be corrected, otherwise he ceases to be real. Let’s not forget that the viewer also needs emotions and emotions, and not the feeling of a superhero world where everything is under the control of one person.

Tim fights his enemies almost single-handedly, the children are barely shown after they are rescued, losing the physical and psychological consequences they might have endured. The absence of these moments also makes the story feel flatter.

You look and don’t believe it, alas.

The plot elements are clearly programmed, leaving no room for unpredictability. What happens is expected, it makes the film poignant and interesting.

It would be more interesting if the hero actually had to face serious difficulties and undergo development as a person. As it is, the film tests more of repeating familiar patterns than original storytelling.

I will note that the director shows commendable sensitivity and tact with a look that could easily have seemed ineffective. A hint of horrific activity behind glass windows and painful silence. Thank you for this, without trash and dirt, right on the screen.

There’s politics here and it’s ruining everything.

“The Sound of Freedom” tries to evoke an emotional reaction in the viewer, but most likely it comes across as a certain manipulation and incompleteness. Add to this the extra “facts” scene at the end of the film, and “Sound of Freedom” feels more political than it seems to be a creative product.

It is the political background that is the most controversial and main point of the film.

Jim Caviezel, who plays the lead role, is known for his adherence to the QAnon conspiracy tenets, and this heavily influences the film. For example, in the American press this caused a resonant film in the propaganda of extremist views. This political interference ruins the film, making it unconvincing and controversial.

QAnon is a conspiracy theory widespread in the United States, whose followers are convinced that the United States (or even the whole world) is ruled by some secret and powerful cabal of Satanist pedophiles, including Democratic Party leaders, businessmen, Hollywood actors, royalty and other celebrities. .

To summarize, a flat plot, unrealistic scenes and political overtones make this film. failed and failed. Raising important topics requires much more than trying to promote dubious views.

I sincerely don’t understand the high ratings on foreign sites. Whether I miss it or not, we’ll decide for you.