The Sound of Freedom is one of those films that comes out of left field. Even with a shoestring budget and no backing from a major studio, it is making waves worldwide. A true underdog story, it cleared every hurdle thrown its way to not only finally being released but to be released to such a large audience and garnering much box office attention that it has become one of the most successful independent films ever.

Jim Caviezel stars as Tim Ballard, a government agent tasked with tracking down and catching pedophiles. He’s very good at his job, having caught dozens throughout his career. But one question from a teammate spins his world upside down. We’ve locked up many pedophiles, his partner says, but how many children have we saved?

Not to discount their work, but it is a valid question. It is also one that changed the trajectory of Tim’s life. It is one thing to stop the victimizers, but what about the victims? The film follows his mission to rescue innocent children forcibly drawn into sexual slavery.

There has been a lot of controversy hovering over the film due partly to its susceptible topic. Far-out conspiracies and politics also contributed to the film being a subject of much discussion and debate, which has worked in its favor in that people have gone to see the movie to see what the hoopla is all about.

But putting aside all the fringe theories and politics and debate about it, what you are left with is still a good movie. It doesn’t feel like an indie film. Great, moving performances, good production values, and exciting characters exist. But most of all, there is a message. A message of hope. I hope that one day, the sex trade industry, which is growing alarmingly fast, will be put to an end.

It is hard to believe that such a thing still exists, let alone that it is flourishing. One might think that we have moved past all that in this day and age. We call ourselves civilized, don’t we? Or perhaps in this time of cellphones, social media, and instant information, one might believe that such a thing as trafficking children would be quickly reported and exposed, yet that isn’t the case.

It is precisely these kinds of ruminations that the movie wants to elicit from its audience. Aside from being a well-done film, Sound of Freedom is meant to be a call to action, a story that keeps the ball rolling, hoping to eventually result in concrete steps to end the horrors it depicts. It invites us to do our part, however small, for the sake of the victims. It is a film that, while entertaining, is also what the producer, Eduardo Verástegui, calls a weapon of mass instruction, a way of informing and inspiring people to get involved in some small way.

So whatever the reason you must see the film, whether it be curiosity about the controversy or wanting to be entertained for a couple of hours, Sound of Freedom will not disappoint.