Movies made a comeback in 2023, as film fans returned to theaters in large numbers for the first time since the end of the pandemic. In addition to the big studio blockbusters, independent films are flourishing, includingSound of Freedom, a filmbased on the true storyof a Homeland Security agent (Jim Caviezel) out to rescue a young girl taken by human traffickers.
Caviezel plays Homeland Security Special Agent Tim Ballard, who helps to rescue a trafficked child. When he learns the young Honduran boy’s sister is still being held by traffickers, he travels to Columbia, determined to bring her home. He partners with a former accountant for the drug cartel, and the two recruit a team on a mission that will take them deep into the Amazonian jungle to rescue the girl and dozens more like her.
The film, directed by Alejandro Monteverde, was actually made in 2018 and was set to bereleased in theaters by 20th Century Foxwhen the studio was acquired by Disney in 2019. The movie, and many others in the Fox portfolio, were shelved, sitting in limbo through the pandemic.
Angel Studios (the creators of the popular streaming seriesThe Chosen) purchased the film from Disney in early 2023. Angel releasedSound of Freedomon July 4 on over 2.800 screens, and was the top-earning film that day, with over $14 million in ticket sales. By the end of July, it had reached the $150 million mark, making it one of thebiggest box office surprises of the year.
In addition to Caviezel, a number of familiar actors star in the film. Following is a list of the major cast members inSound of Freedom, including where you might recognize them from.
Jim Caviezel as Tim Ballard
Jim Caviezelplays Tim Ballard, a Special Agent with the Department of Homeland Security who gets involved in the rescue of trafficked children in South America. Caviezel is best known for his role as Jesus Christ inMel Gibson’s epicThe Passion of the Christ, the most successful independent film of all time. TV viewers will likely remember him as John Reese in Jonathan Nolan’s CBS seriesPerson of Interest, which ran for five seasons from 2011 to 2016.
The Washington native had his first role in the 1991 indie hitMy Own Private Idahoand followed that up with small roles inThe Wonder Years,Wyatt Earp,Murder She Wrote, andG.I. Jane. In 1998, he had his breakthrough with a lead role in Terrence Malick’s World War II masterpieceThe Thin Red Lineand followed that up with key roles inPay It Forward,Frequency, andThe Count of Monte Cristo.
His role inThe Passion of the Christfollowed in 2004, and he then played a bad guy in the Denzel Washington thrillerDeja Vuin 2006. Recently, he appeared in the AMC miniseriesThe Prisonerin 2009,Escape Plan(2013), andWhen the Game Stands Tall(2014).
Mira Sorvino as Katherine Ballard
Mira Sorvinoplays Katherine Ballard, Tim’s wife. Sorvino is best known forher iconic role as Romyin 1997’sRomy and Michelle’s High School Reunion. In 1996, she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role inMighty Aphrodite. That same year, she earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for Best Lead Actress in a Miniseries for playing Marilyn Monroe inNorma Jean and Marilyn. Her prolific career includes roles inQuiz Show,Mimic,The Replacement Killers,Summer of Sam,Hollywood,American Crime Story, andShining Vale.
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Bill Camp as Vampiro
Bill Campplays Vampiro, a former accountant for the cartel who now works to save children from human traffickers. He teams up with Ballard on his mission to save Rocio, a girl kidnapped and sold by human traffickers.
Camp earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series for the 2017 HBO seriesThe Night Of. In 2021, he earned a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series forThe Queen’s Gambit. His other roles include12 Years a Slave,Birdman,Joker,Vice, andLincoln.
Cristal Aparicio as Rocío
Columbian actressCristal Apariciohas starred in several Spanish-language films and television series. She did appear in an episode ofHaunted: Latin America, a series streaming on Netflix.Sound of Freedomis her first major American film.
Lucás Ávila as Miguel
Columbian actorLucás Ávilaplays Miguel, a child who is saved from traffickers by Tim Ballard. He reveals to Ballard that his sister Rocio is still missing and held by traffickers. That sends Ballard on a mission to recover her and other children. Ávila is a Bogata native, andSound of Freedommarks his theatrical acting debut. His only other acting credit was his appearance in six episodes ofEnfermeras, a Columbian telenovela set in a hospital.
Javier Godino as Jorge
Spanish actorJavier Godinoplays Jorge, a Columbian police officer who assists Tim Ballard on his mission. Godino began his acting career on the stage, performing for over two decades in numerous plays and musicals in Spain. He has appeared in a number of notable films in both Spanish and English, including playing Isidoro Gomez inThe Secret in Their Eyes, the 2010 winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film (Argentina).
His other film appearances include the World War II epicOperation Mincemeatwith Colin Firth, 2014’sEverybody Has a Planwith Viggo Mortensen, 2008’sDeceptionwith Hugh Jackman and Ewan McGregor, the AMC seriesMafia, and the Netflix seriesInto the Night.
Yessica Borroto Perryman as Katy
Yessica Borroto Perrymanstars as Katy, a woman who helps human traffickers abduct children by pretending to be a modeling agent. She is perhaps best known for playing Marta in the Netflix seriesNarcos: Mexico. Her other credits include the 2023 filmCharityand the Netflix seriesFour Seasons in Havana.
Eduardo Verástegui as Paul
Eduardo Verástegui plays Paul, a wealthy Columbian businessman who helps fund Ballard’s mission when he decides to go at it alone, without the help of the U.S. government. Verástegui is a Mexican actor and producer with a diverse career.
After starring in a number of Mexican TV productions in the 1990s, he earned fame by playing the love interest in Jennifer Lopez’s 2001 music video “Ain’t It Funny.” He followed that by appearing in episodes ofCSI: Miami,Karen Sisco,Kevin Can Wait, andCharmed. He also had notable roles inFor Greater GloryandPaul Blart: Mall Cop 2. In 2006, he started producing, with the filmBellaand followed that by producing the Spanish version ofSon of God,Little Boy, andUnplanned. He also serves as a producer ofSound of Freedom.
Gustavo Sánchez Parra as El Calacas
Gustavo Sánchez Parraplays El Calacas, a key member of the Columbian human trafficking operation. A native of Mexico City, Parra has appeared in a number of Mexican films and American productions, including 2005’sThe Legend of Zorro, the Mel Gibson filmGet the Gringo,the Tommy Lee Jones-directed filmThe Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, the Apple TV+ seriesThe Mosquito Coast, and the Oscar-nominatedAmores Perros.
José Zúñiga as Roberto
Jose Zúñigaplays Roberto, the father of Rocio and Miguel, who is desperately seeking to reunite with his children. Zúñiga is likely a familiar face to many movie fans, particularly for playing Mr. Molina inTwilight.
Related:Sound of Freedom: Breaking Down Every Controversy Surrounding the Divisive Film
He also appeared in the filmsRansom,Con Air(as the doomed undercover DEA agent on the plane),Mission Impossible III, andThe Dark Tower. Marvel fans likely recognize him as Eli Morrow inAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.His extensive TV career includes roles onWestworld,Chicago P.D.,Narcos: Mexico,The Expanse,Madam Secretary,Snowfall,Desperate Housewives,CSI,Prison Break, andThe Shield.
