“‘Sound of Freedom’ Is a Superhero Movie for Dads with Brainworms. The QAnon-tinged thriller about child-trafficking is designed to appeal to the conscience of a conspiracy-addled boomer.’”

That’s what Rolling Stone said about the movie based on a true story that highlights a real organization, Operation Underground Railroad, that rescues children from trafficking and exploitation.

Today, we’ll be addressing something I never knew we needed to: Trafficking isn’t a conspiracy.

We’ll also talk about the irresponsible article headlines coming out from major publications.

DISCLAIMER: I have not yet watched this film. I have family who has and I love the studio that made it. I think it’s an incredibly important message, but I have yet to see it. I’m making this episode because I find it quite unfathomable that legitimate publications would write headlines that seem to discredit not just the actor but human trafficking itself. This topic is something I’m SO passionate about and at the end of this episode, I’ll announce something we’ll be doing at She Lives Purposefully in response to all this.

Okay, first, what Is Sound of Freedom?

The movie Sound of Freedom was released by Angel Studios. They’re also responsible for  The Chosen. According to Angel studios “Sound of Freedom is a true story film that exposes the darkness of child trafficking. A federal agent saves a boy from traffickers, but his sister is still captive. He embarks on a dangerous mission, risking his life to free her from a fate worse than death.” 

It hit #3 it’s opening weekend, and according to Newsweek, it beat Indiana Jones in theaters at one point, had sold out theaters, standing ovations, and passed $40 million in the box office.

As we talk about the irresponsible headlines of publications, we need to establish truth: Human trafficking isn’t a conspiracy. It’s a sickening tragedy that we need to be at the very least aware of.

The New York Times in 2019 stated that there were “over 45 million online photos and videos of children being sexually abused” in 2018. 

The UN 2020 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons said that about ⅓ of victims of human trafficking are children.

Now that we’ve established the tragic reality, let’s see what some publications have said about the new film. 

To summarize first, National Review said it well, “It’s not paranoid or QAnon adjacent to bring much needed attention to horrors that are all too real.”

They then continue to say this “The QAnon conspiracy held that child sex traffickers operate within the “deep state.” Is it “QAnon adjacent” to suggest that child sex traffickers operate anywhere?”

So here are some headlines that just leave you asking – why in the world are these writers saying that a movie based on a true story is almost conspiratorial when we know for a fact stories like this and the basis of this film is fact?

It’s irresponsible at best and disgusting at worst. 

• • • THE GUARDIAN: “Sound of Freedom: the QAnon-adjacent thriller seducing America. Jim Caviezel stars as a hero trying to stop child traffickers in a PARANOID NEW MOVIE turning into a surprise box-office hit.”
    • THE GUARDIAN: “The trafficking follows no motivation more elaborate than the servicing of rich predators” 
    • ROLLING STONE: “‘Sound Of Freedom’ Is a Superhero Movie for Dads With Brainworms. The QAnon-tinged thriller about child-trafficking is designed to appeal to the conscience of a conspiracy-addled boomer.” The WAY this headline diminishes human trafficking is appaling. You could say, “No it diminishes the message of the movie” But the message is bringing awareness to the reality of human trafficking. But they go further – if you are someone who would want to watch this film, support a message that’s anti and fighting against the very real child trafficking of kids – you have brainworms. AND you’re probably QAnon and are a conspiracy theorist. This headline is essentially minimizing the importance or severity of trafficking or at least making fun of people who think it’s this severe. Which news flash, IT IS. It’s so severe and heartbreaking. 

I’m SO frustrated because all in all these headlines, irresponsible and disgusting, minimize the real severity of human trafficking. Now, I encourage you to go read these headlines yourselves. One of these articles at the very end said that human trafficking was real and it’s affects all while saying that the movie about it was “paranoid.”

Too some articles have a problem with the actor and/or the founder or methods of the anti trafficking organization – and they’re entitled to that – but then don’t present your headlines as though human trafficking is a conspiracy and paranoia or minimize it.

Alright so starting asap, She Lives Purposefully will be donating a portion of every profit it makes to an organization that fights human trafficking.