An American drama based on child trafficking and the rescue operations by former federal agent, Tim Ballard, which took place in Colombia. In an interview, Ballard indicated that the screenplay dramatised his activities, some touches fictionalised. However, Ballard was able to give testimony to the American authorities and was influential in changing legislation about child trafficking in the US. Which means that this film, with its harrowing moments, is an earnest film about a contemporary evil – with a final comment about the number of men and women in slavery today, so many of them children, a greater number of contemporary slaves than when slavery was legal. Which means that this is an issue that ordinary audiences need to be aware of.
The film opens in Honduras, a little girl at home, beating a drum (and the final sequence of this film will be the little girl once again at home, beating the drum). What seems innocent at first, a young talent scout persuading a father that his little girl should come to an audition, along with her little brother, for some kind of future using her talent. He agrees and delivers them. But, we realise quickly that this is grooming, the children in all kinds of poses, photos taken, provocative, and the woman hurrying the children away so that when the father returns, the location is empty.
The introduction to Tim Ballard follows, a family man with a supportive wife and children, an American agent, posing as a paedophile, undercover to infiltrate the rings. It is alarming to see this kind of work, the infiltration, the pretence, the paedophiles fearful, giving information, arrested. Information leads to rings operating out of Latin America, transporting of children to Tijuana or to Columbia. The drama becomes more personal when a paedophile trafficker is stopped at the US-Mexican border and arrested, the little boy from the initial story found in the vehicle, rescued, telling the story of the disappearance of his sister, Ballard very much moved by the story and wanting to track down the sister.
Tim Ballard allegedly chose Jim Caviezel to portray him in this film. For many audiences, memories of Jim Caviezel in Passion of the Christ and his intense gaze (and executive producer of this film is Mel Gibson). Ballard wants to resume pursuit of the paedophiles but his bosses are reluctant and he resigns. What follows is more undercover work, information from Thailand about paedophiles setting up a hotel and this being the inspiration to set up a fake paedophile hotel in Colombia, inviting participants (including the woman who auditioned the children in Honduras), individuals who would disgust the audience, entrapment, but bringing 50 children to the hotel – then a raid, arrests. Rescue.
The action does not finish there – it continues with an upcountry journey to the mountains, Ballard accompanied by a former criminal who wants now to do good, posing as doctors, travelling to a dangerous village, women and children foot stamping coca leaves for cocaine. As we expect, the little girl is there, another dangerous rescue…
There are two particular aspects to note about the film and its release. In fact, the film was finished in 2018 and, for various business reasons, shelved. It was taken up for distribution by Angel Studios (Angel the name for the many contributors to crowd financing – and a huge list in the final credits). The studios are now working on a number of projects after their release of the Abraham-Isaac story, His Only Son. Production is underway on Cabrini, the story of St Frances Cabrini. Their best known release is the television Gospel series, The Chosen. The other aspect is the extraordinary success at the box office in 2023, second on the list on release, and continuing very successful, over-recouping costs. The film was also taken on by religious groups, buying tickets for audiences. There was also some controversy because of the perspectives of some of the supporting groups, conspiracy theorists, referring to some political attacks focusing on President Trump’s campaigns and what might be called crazy allegations.
The film should be seen for its standalone drama and themes.
Available to view locally at Palace Balwyn Cinema, Village Cinemas Rivoli and Doncaster
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