It is difficult to separate this film from the surrounding politics, but if one does, objectively speaking, this is an average child trafficking thriller, and not a whole lot more. The great film about child trafficking is yet to be made.

I have several issues with the film as a piece of filmmaking. I also think the manipulative fundraising ask on the end credits leaves a sour taste in the mouth, again for reasons I expound on in this piece (and a little in the paragraph below).

Also, I am getting very, very pissed off by if-you-don't-think-this-film-is-brilliant-you're-a-paedophile type remarks. Such comments don't deserve the dignity of a response, suffice it to say, whilst anyone with an iota of human conscience thinks child trafficking is a vile scourge, it doesn't necessarily mean we all have to overlook clear flaws in the filmmaking, Caviezel's crazy QAnon beliefs, and the dubious lack of transparency in the pay-it-forward fundraising. Where is that money going? To fight trafficking? If you go into "fundraising" mode, buying tickets to raise "awareness", I damn well want to know exactly how this money is spent. I'd be perfectly happy to let my money go into the filmmakers pockets without this appeal, but including one changes the terms of engagement between the viewer and the filmmakers.

My thoughts in full: https://medium.com/simon-dillon-cinema/film-review-sound-of-freedom-9f778c7716b6