“Sound Of Freedom”: When fiction becomes a cry for justice

An authentic story, truthful enough to be a faithful witness of reality, but efficiently creative enough to address such a delicate subject in a captivating way. That’s “Sound Of Freedom,” a movie that goes beyond mere entertainment. Its history, its global resonance and until the moment in which it premieres make the work directed by Alejandro Monteverde make sense in a society that speaks little of human trafficking, and even less when it is linked to child exploitation. The film, which was released on August 31 in Argentine theaters, takes place in the heart of the Colombian jungle, where violence and oppression spread, giving life to a story based on real events. The play narrates the journey of Tim Ballard, starring Jim Caviziel, a US federal agent who, after rescuing a child from the hands of child traffickers, discovers that the survivor’s sister is still captive. Determined to rescue her, he makes the decision to abandon his job and sets out on the journey to free her, risking his own life. In a sort of visual summary, and with extremely careful language, issues such as spirituality, innocence, parental responsibility, governmental inefficiency and the duty of citizens in the face of social problems are addressed. Although each theme is based on true events, the identity of all involved is protected. According to Ballard, who worked for 12 years as a special agent in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, three different narratives were used to write the final script in order to preserve the victims. The making of the film was subject to a series of challenges that encompassed emotional and critical aspects. Both those who put themselves at the feet of the victims and those who had to interpret the role of the perpetrators were subjected to an emotional process of great intensity. “It was very strong, one always has a vague knowledge of child trafficking but was not aware of its magnitude,” explained Yessica Borroto who plays “Giselle”, a character based on Kelly Johana Suárez, a woman who recruited and trafficked children using her credentials in Colombia. “I was very distressed, I remember that after reading the script I spent vomiting for days, I felt terrible,” she continued. For his part, José Zuniga, who gives life to “Roberto”, the father of the two kidnapped children, also shared his experience: “I had to ‘throw’ myself fully.” “I forced myself to allow myself to explore a lot of emotions to be able to embody the role in a dignified way,” he said and clarified: “My goal was to capture one more man of society, trapped in a situation as tragic as the kidnapping of his two children.” However, there was one role that no one dared to take: that of Earl Buchanan, one of the Americans who buys and sells minors. “It had become a problem during casting because several actors turned down the role for being too dark,” said Gary Basaraba, an actor who accepted the role “without problems.” Alejandro contacted me to approach me the proposal and explained one by one the reasons why I was making the film, to which I simply replied: Of course I will, “said the artist and continued: “I did not prepare myself at all for the role, I tried to uproot myself from all those charged and sensitive thoughts about the subject in question, Because this kind of editorialization can only produce a limit that hinders interpretation.” Art as a call to actionThe pain of history is projected on the big screen, with Hollywood overtones. In a game between the police perspective and the hell to which minors are subjected, the message of the film is clear: pressure states to take real action. It is a cry of desperation to reevaluate legislation, develop child protection protocols, implement harsh and efficient sanctions to prevent and re-educate. “Our hope is that an ‘honest’ discussion about the problem will be generated, that people will reflect and put the issue on the table,” Zuniga said. “That moves, but at the same time, angers leading to the revelation of more stories that are usually silenced. There are heroes in every Latin American country fighting to provide dignity and opportunities to the most vulnerable,” he said. And unsurprisingly, the intent was not without criticism from those who downplay the seriousness of the problem and from those whose commercial interests could be affected by the film’s portrayal.the. Several media in the United States accused her of “conspiratorial”, when these statements are baseless if the facts and the chronology of the production are considered. Filming began in 2015 and concluded in 2019, meaning that its realization spanned a period when the government was in the hands of another administration. The film was not created in response to any specific mandate or current political agenda. “They turned the film into a ‘conflict’ between left and right. It’s silly, I’ve even heard certain people say it has a pro-QAnon tinge (theory that claims Donald Trump is up against a shady group of Democratic Party pedophiles). Sound Of Freedom is a hard and truthful look at what is a hidden issue at a global level,” Basaraba explained, discrediting any notion of a supposed political downturn. According to a joint report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Walk Free, it is estimated that there are approximately 50 million people in the world currently under human trafficking. Thus, women are the most frequent victims, representing 46% of the total, according to data from the United Nations (UN). Even more alarming is the fact that 19% of them are minors. A large part are in Latin America, where they are victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation, labor, servile marriages, they are even forced to commit contract killings or transport drugs, among other situations. In a world where human trafficking and exploitation remain a dark reality, it is crucial that we take action to prevent this heinous crime. If you want to report any activity related to human trafficking, seek assistance or additional information, you can contact the toll-free line 145, which operates 24 hours a day. With every step we take, we move closer to a future where freedom and dignity are the pillars of our society.

Original source in Spanish