I am particularly delighted any time there is something that moves the human heart for which no algorithm can give an account. Now and then a movie comes out that surprises critics and sweeps the polls. It is no easy task to compete with the money and glitz of Hollywood. There is no reason that a summer movie on the rarely acknowledged scandal of modern-day slavery could or should stand a chance in the box office against the likes of Mission Impossible or Barbie, and yet . . .
Despite five years of fits and starts, The Sound of Freedom was released on July 4, 2023, and has surpassed all predictions of cinematic success. Viewers are making it known by purchasing tickets for themselves or others (paying it forward), and showing up in theaters for what may be the first time since the pandemic. Whether or not you have seen or plan to see this film, here are a few thoughts from one movie-goer to another:
A quick overview
The Sound of Freedom is a thrilling story based on the life of Tim Ballard, a former Homeland Security officer. Ballard, played by Jim Caviezel, arrests pedophiles and those seeking/promoting graphic images of children. One day, Ballard’s co-worker asks how many children have been saved through their efforts and Ballard is forced to acknowledge that in fact, no children have been rescued by their well-intentioned efforts.
Spurred by this challenge, Ballard begins the task of returning one child to his family. As he works to unravel the distressing tale that eight-year-old Miguel shares, he returns him to his father only to realize that his sister has suffered the same fate. As a father himself, Ballard realizes that he cannot hang his hat on the singular reunion of the first child he encountered. The primary challenge of the film focuses on the monumental efforts put forth by Ballard and friends to reunite the Aguilar family.
“God's children are not for sale.”
When asked about his motivations for entering into this dangerous line of work, Caviezel’s character simply replies: “God’s children are not for sale.” The conversation around modern-day slavery (human trafficking) necessarily begins here, with a recognition of our universal inborn human dignity as children of God. At our core, at the most basic level, Judeo-Christians hold that we are made in the image and likeness of God. Anything that goes against this most fundamental principle is a distortion of the Truth. So it should go without saying that any time a price is put on an image-bearer, we are in grave territory.
Human trafficking fits into this category, but we deceive ourselves when we imagine that it is the only place in our modern lives where children (and adults) are for sale. We cannot forget about the evils of pornography, sweatshops, prostitution, unjust labor conditions, etc. These topics are not easily acknowledged, but if we do not do so—and note our role in supporting them through things like fast fashion, unjust wages, forced labor, and rock-bottom online pricing—there is no hope for change in a universal acknowledgment of the value of human life (and labor).
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it (John 1:5).
Just as Jesus came to bring light into the darkness, we, the people of God, are called to shine the love of God into the darkest realities that exist. That doesn’t mean that we are all equipped to take on the challenges that someone in Ballard’s position might be. That said, circumstances where trafficking arises most often occur over time and in relationships with dysfunctional family members (as opposed to kidnappings). We are obligated to recognize for ourselves, and to witness to those in our lives, that the value of human life is to be protected.
Although the Church and many organizations have been at the forefront of educating about and working to end human trafficking for decades, the realities presented in The Sound of Freedom have lit a new fire in the lives of viewers to be more informed and to work to end such a travesty, which is a grace. I have even seen reminders to look for signs and report abuses or suspected human trafficking in restaurants, hotels, truck stops, and airport bathrooms, which should tell you everything you need to know about its pervasiveness.
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Should you see The Sound of Freedom?
This is a personal question. Is it a difficult movie to watch? Without a doubt. Is it an important movie to watch? Without a doubt. And there is a possibility that the trauma presented in this film could be triggering of traumas experienced in your own life. If this is the case, by all means, learn about the issue in a different format. It is one man’s story, and by no means an exhaustive account.
Whether or not you choose to watch the movie, we have a moral responsibility to respond to this complex, contemporary tragedy. Here is a great opportunity to remember the corporal & spiritual works of mercy that guide us in our action and prayer to our brothers and sisters in need. The cost of our $15 movie tickets certainly helps to communicate our values, but it cannot end there. It can be easy to walk out of the theater and wash our hands of the matter as long as we are not personally patronizing red-light districts—and although that is good, it is a low bar.
A Red Light Prayer
I heard a speaker on human trafficking years ago who encouraged one way to consistently keep victims of human trafficking (and perpetrators’ conversion) in prayer, each time we are stopped at a red light. She called it a ‘red-light prayer.’ Because very often the districts where sex trafficking occurs are called ‘red-light districts.’
What a simple and regular reminder to pray.
Further Resources
*The Sound of Freedom is in theaters for a little while longer, after that it will be made available for streaming.
The Coalition of Catholic Organizations Against Human Trafficking
U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking
International Catholic Migration Commission
Katie Cassady is a wife and mom who has worked in young adult and social ministry in a variety of roles over the past 15 years. Steeped in theological reflection, it is her joy to make connections between Scripture, service, and Catholic social teaching through her work at Catholic Charities. She holds a master's degree in Pastoral Ministry and loves to write about the dignity of the human person, stewardship, and Sabbath in a world desperate for the peace of Christ.
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