The filmmaker says he doesn’t understand why the film has been embraced by American conservatives and makes liberals wary. For Alejandro Monteverde, writer and director of ‘Sound of Freedom’, it is the best of times in the most disruptive. His $14.5 million indie film that sat in limbo for four years without distribution has become the surprise hit of the summer, taking in $173 million at the US box office since July 4, surprisingly ahead of “Mission Impossible − Dead.” Reckoning Part One’ by Tom Cruise ($160 million).
However, the thriller, based on a true story and stars ‘Passion of the Christ’s’ Jim Caviezel as Tim Ballard, who went from being an agent for the US Department of Homeland Security to a crusader against child trafficking for sexual exploitation, has become a focal point of criticism and a controversial political ball. “The movie has become a circus on the political spectrum,” says Monteverde.
As ‘Sound of Freedom’ continues its impressive run in more than 2,800 theaters, the Mexican film director, whose 2006 film ‘Bella’ won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival, is addressing the controversies about the movie. “It breaks my heart that this film is, in any way, shape or form, part of a controversy. It shouldn’t be,” says Monteverde, who is married to model and actress Ali Landry.
“I have always thought that the United States feels like the biggest island in the world. People think that the American opinion is the only one and it is not. It has been very refreshing to go to other countries and realize that many of the ridiculous labels that were promoted from the United States are not maintained. The audience has responded and the press has asked other types of questions. It has not focused on the conspiracies.”, he said.
