As controversial as it is popular in the United States, the film Sound of Freedom had a rather shy first weekend at the Quebec box office, reaching sixth place in the rankings, according to Cinéac. The duty attended the screening of the conspiratorial-flavored feature film when it was released on July 14, and went to meet spectators in the room.
Only a quarter of the seats were occupied in the room projecting Sound of Freedom last Friday at the Latin Quarter cinema. A mixed success confirmed by the first results of the film at the Quebec box office: Sound of Freedom raked in just $106,000, according to Cinéac, over the weekend of July 14-16, putting the film in sixth place on the charts, beating only productions in theaters for more than a month. The film by Quebec director Louise Archambault, One summer timereleased on the same day, generated twice the revenue of the thriller American.
Sound of Freedom achieved greater success in the United States, grossing US$85 million, according to IMDB, two weeks after its release.
Linda Fahra, spokesperson for Cinémas Guzzo, which distributes Sound of Freedom in Quebec, however, is satisfied with the results. “It averages $4,000 per screen, which is really good,” she says, announcing that the film’s run will be extended for a week.
Controversy
Sound of Freedom tells a story inspired by real events, that of Tim Ballard. As an agent within the Department of Homeland Security, he saves the young Miguel who explains to him that his sister has also been kidnapped by a cartel taking part in a child trafficking network. Moved by the story of the young boy, the hero, played by Jim Caviezel, embarks on a quest that takes him to the most reclusive areas of Colombia, where he risks his life to save the young girl.
Critics of the CBC or the New York Times describe the thriller as “effective”. THE Rolling Stone Magazine meanwhile strongly criticizes the film for its sensationalism which he considers misinforming.
The controversy does not stem from the screenplay, however: the film combines sleazy and unusual connections. The film’s lead actor, Jim Caviezel, indeed attended QAnon group conferences in 2021 and even called the conspiratorial movement a “good thing”, according to the BBC.
This isn’t the actor’s first time starring in a controversial film. In 2004, he played Jesus in Mel Gibson’s film The passion of Christ. Catholic scholars called the film anti-Semitic and anti-Catholic, according to the BBC.
The QAnon movement is partly responsible for popularizing “pizzagate,” a conspiracy theory that claims the existence of a pedophile ring organized by American elites, including the Clintons.
The film Sound of Freedom refers a few times to this theory of an elite consuming juvenile prostitution. In a message following the credits, the main actor can be heard saying that “for a few months, sharing the film, these children [les victimes de la prostitution juvénile] can be more powerful than presidents, congressmen, tech millionaires.”
The main character is also filmed reading the front page of a newspaper implicating an “American executive”. For the RollingStonethese snippets of accusations against the elite may not resonate with the listener unaware of “deep state” conspiracy theories, but followers of QAnon and other side plots will grasp these messages.
The American studio which distributes the film, Angel studio, has also put forward a particular method so that the film is viewed by as many people as possible. Still after the credits, the main actor invites spectators in the cinema to scan a QR code which leads to a page on the studio’s website. Viewers can then pay $15 to $105 for the distribution house to buy tickets in theaters and distribute them for free.
Spectators believe in censorship
The idea that the film would be censored spread very quickly on social networks. Some moviegoers have accused AMC Theaters of ruining their experience in order to hurt its box office performance, according to Forbes. The 10-day wait for a Quebec theatrical screening sparked the same reproaches of muzzling from “deep state” theorists.
Cinephiles met by The duty at the release of the film have also relayed the ideas conveyed on this subject on social networks.
“In the United States, they did everything not to let people go see the film, we were lucky, it went well,” said William Bui at Duty.
“They put that word [conspirationniste] pretty much everywhere. There can be a conspiracy which is positive too! […] You watch the film and you want to help someone, ”says Pierre Lebel, who came to attend the screening with his wife.