Nicole

There are films that create wonder in the watcher-this is one such film. The Hiding Place, taken from the Book of Psalms, comes to theatres on August 3, 2023, as a limited-release film from Trafalgar Studios, directed by Laura Matula, featuring performances by Nan Gurley as Corrie ten Boom; Carrie Tillis as Betsie ten Boom; and John Schuck as Casper ten Boom.

Plot

The film is set in 1942 Europe, during the height of the conflicts of World War II, the Boom family, living in Haarlem, Netherlands, settled in an old cooper’s shop, the family makes great strives to survive war-torn conditions at home. The family’s oldest daughter, Corrie, practically runs the family shop, with sister, Betsie helping, too—though her real gifts lie not in metal gears and gizmos, but in floral arranging. Adding fresh color to the family’s drab interiors whenever possible.

Yet, inholding on strongly in the Netherlands, now occupied by Nazi Germany, the Booms are faced with unexpected circumstances-and visitors. The Caspers take on a new shop apprentice, Otto, a young German man, who seems to work far more than he lives. Quoted as saying, “I work as efficiently as possible, and I expect my time to be treated likewise.” As the young German has neither interest nor time in Betsy’s floral innovations, the two are often at odds over time and access within the family business, and home. Seen in the background of various scenes depicting family dinner’s-including dining with SS Officials.

Despite this depravity, other visitors come to the Boom home-Jews, hungry, afraid, and scared. Worsened by the Booms’ hospitality having gotten around, underground resistance messaging, and otherwise. Creating pragmatic conditions for daughter Corrie, who despite her best efforts to minimize unwanted attention, Casper insists on keeping the door spaces, and community communications open. Stating that “In this house, God’s people are always welcome.”

For those familiar with the story of Corrie Boom, you know what follows: lives lost, lives saved, with the hope that always remains. Creating a powerful rendition of a true story of familial sacrifice, forgiveness, redemption, compassion, and purposed joy.

A great scene in the movie is depicted when Otto first came to the Boom home, Corrie stated that “I cannot see what good can come of it.” Afraid of the time when more Jews would come, too. Struggling with her own family’s sorted past. Behind this lingered compassion and understanding that people, and their various religious, gender, races, and socioeconomic statuses, like her beloved flowers, were truly worth aiding, even in the height of skirmishes in the war-town Netherlands. And it is through these differences that the wonder of humanity truly blooms.

Historic Significance

The heroic take on Corrie ten Boom, by way of her book, The Hiding Place, upon which this stage-to-screen production was based, chronicles her and her family’s work to save nearly 800 Jews during World War II and her later experiences in a German concentration camp. Throughout such trials, she clung to her faith, was later knighted in the Netherlands for her work, and was honored by the newly formed Israeli State, which named her as one of the “Righteous Among the Nations.”

Truly captivating is that Corrie doesn’t begin her journey in the film as that beloved hero. Instead, she is dragged into heroism by her father and sister. The Caspers bravely welcome Jews into his shop despite the dangers they brought unto themselves. Showing strength and compassion to both German occupiers and Jews alike, sharing with audiences the true spirit of the Netherlands,’ despite their occupying forces, the Germans. Who’s familiar essences shine true in another great film quote in which Corrie exclaims, “When we find something in the world that is wrong, we must not hate it. We must help it to become something different. To see something rightly, you must see it with love.” That sensibility seasons the narrative of this warm-hearted film.

Views on the Film

Taking this philosophy to heart, and believing that “Christ stayed in the garden when he knew they would come,” referencing Gethsemane and the Romans, in that, on behalf of the family, Otto would “Stay in my home and hope they will not,” leading the family to more continued perils at the hands of Nazi Inspectors. When the Nazis, do come, taking Betsie and Corrie to a concentration camp, their optimism and compassion remain.

Despite flea-ridden barracks and scant meals, the sisters believe there is still hope and purpose to be found. And in so doing, Betsie the sisters unify their belief in humanity, their faith, and their creator. Forging their family backbone, and story, along the way.

Throughout the film, a Christian ethos is woven into the film’s main plot line and extensive familiar dialogue. Motivating audiences to consider their own faith, choices, and circumstances. An example is the nightly dinner where the Bloom family read from the Bible. As such, various Biblical passages, from both testaments, are depicted throughout the film-reflecting both the difficult season this family finds themselves in as well as that of their guests, colleagues, and community members. Despite this, the Booms never try to convert their Jewish guests but do invite them, along with all their homes guests, to read Scripture aloud nightly. Even as Otto reluctantly exclaims the Bible is a “book of lies” and flatly refuses. To which, the father, Otto, replies, “We have learned better than the keeping of fairy tales.” Stating that “In Holland, we respect even those with whom we disagree.”

Further, the Nazis seen throughout The Hiding Place have little patience with Christianity. One Nazi inquisitor even goes as far as to use Corrie’s faith against her, telling her that lying is a sin. Reminding her that the Bible commands the faithful to respect leaders placed in authority. And when that doesn’t produce fruit, the Nazi suggests that “If there is a God, He’s shown nothing but contempt for the plight of the Booms.” Warning that “Before the end, you will see much more of what your God is willing to allow.”

Later in the film, Betsie proves to be a counterbalance to the clan, as she smuggles a Bible into the concentration camp, and reads it out loud so that others may be comforted in its word. Nightly leading the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. Clinging steadfast to her own faith, and her personal truth that “There is no darkness so deep that He is not deeper still.”

Meanwhile, Corrie and Betsie’s brother, Willem, despite their father Otto’s misgivings, announces he’s leaving the ministry to help the elderly. Becoming a key piece in Netherlands’ underground work against the Nazis.

Takeaways

While The Hiding Place is a Christian story, several Jewish faith practices as documented throughout the film. Such as a woman lighting a candle and covering her eyes as she recites a blessing. And despite the unimaginable cruelty set within Nazi concentration camps, were places of unimaginable cruelty, violence, and death. As viewers aren’t subjected to graphic visual depictions of violence, yet are given a true sense of the tragedy depicted there. Sharing Nazis vandalizing, theft, and humanist blasphemy. Including the stealing of gold fillings and the teeth of interred camp prisoners. As women gently hold the sides of their faces in unison, illustrating the pain and loss of their health and humanity. In another scene, a man is tortured by Nazis, depicting the crucifixion of Christ, as a Nazi pulls out a revolver, killing the prisoner, and causing an uprising of violence within the camp itself.

With fairness and transparency in mind, the film shows locals and prisoners alike, accousted by Nazi agents. Others die from communicable, yet curable, illnesses. Or conditions within the camp, including the rampancy of lice, and inclement weather. The prisoners are plastered with an embroidered triangle on their person, indicating what crime they committed against the Reich-with red indicating a political prisoner; green meaning they’ve broken a law; and yellow indicating the crime of being born Jewish. While audiences are told of a death of an elderly gentleman, who’s buried in an unmarked grave as onlookers laugh. Having lost my own father figure, Danny, in an LGBTQIA Hate Crime in 2000, bringing home the true gravitas of the film.

While in the camps, Corrie does do things that would run counter to biblical teachings. Taking ration cards to feed the ten Booms’ Jewish guests, lying to Nazis officers, and while in a concentration camp, Corrie and others work to build faulty radio equipment, to throw off Nazi lines of communication in-camp. Showing that sometimes humanity’s best work isn’t Biblically-based.

Conclusion

Corrie ten Boom’s autobiographical The Hiding Place, published in 1971, and this latest depiction, is a truly heartwarming depiction of, her story. In this stage-to-screen take on that story, Corrie ten Boom is not its hero-that accolade goes to her father, depicting common mainstream patriarchal Christian cinema fans expect and demand. Despite this, her good works shine through- to her sister, herself, and most importantly, her God.

The film gives watchers, especially women, and girls, the sense that Corrie is not simply a heroine of the silver stage or perhaps a positive footnote in history, that possibly, maybe, Corrie is like me. Perhaps you, too. Sharing that her strength is not in adjudicating those who’ve cast disparity and alienation among her family and guests of her parent’s home. Instead, offering social and familiar empathy with those whom she finds herself amongst-even those who seek her demise. Only, she does so in an uncanny, offhanded way. Leaving viewers to see that the bravest of roads often are paved with the unlikeliest of circumstances.

In The Hiding Place, we see Corrie distracted by life’s gears, the springs, and the cornucopia of instances that change the entirety of her circumstances, allowing her to become whole within her work-aiding Betsie’s figurative love of her flowers and Otto’s pragmatic views. Making Corrie less an untenable heroine of faith, and more a woman of value, even in times of great uncertainty. Giving watchers a sense of how they themselves can make significant changes in their own lives, and that of the framework of humanity, too.

With strong performance and positive stagecraft, The Hiding Place gives viewers hope and faith in themselves and others. Something we can all spend time this season in. Leaving viewers to wonder how their own story will begin, as this film ends.

Friends, I take the opportunity to see this film in theatres this season, too. You can purchase tickets to this film, only in theatres on August 3rd and 5th, here and see my review of the film on Rotten Tomatoes, here. Also, you can find out more about these films on social media with the hashtags #TheHidingPlaceMIN, #TheHidingPlace, and #MomentumInfluencers across social media.

As an added bonus for Theladyprefers2save.com readers, you’ll have the opportunity to win a $10.00 Amazon gift card. To enter, leave a comment below or on my Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter post for the film. Winners will be selected on August 4, 2023- Amazon gift cards will be delivered from Momentum Influencers directly.

Good luck, and happy viewing.

It’s no secret that my life, my lineage, and my family have faced more challenges than most. From the societal pressures of being the illegitimate child of drug-addled teens to dealing with the fallout of the death of my dad, Danny, in an LGBTQIA hate crime at fifteen, or surviving violation of being physically, mentally, financially, and sexually assaulted from an early age. Or the shame that comes from conflicts empaths face at the hands of individuals unable, and unwilling to live beyond the confines of their own sociopathy and psychopathy.

Issues that throughout my life, have left me feeling less than ideal in today’s modern world. Never being taught that sometimes, children are made to live down to the ramifications of being unbelieved by the clergy and greater Christian communities. It is far more than hyperbole to say, I’ve known first-hand what it means to fall between society’s cracks.

To find meaning in these experiences, I’ve tried a myriad of ways to bring myself closer to the vision of the kingdom I was presented as a child. From missioning in Central Africa, aiding children reeling from sexual exploitation to the social and the economic ramifications of the diamond trades, to becoming a civil rights attorney. Later, a writer. Granting myself permission to share my story, in prose and purpose, my own kingdom story. Experiences shading my perceptions of humanity.

Understandably, my past experiences require me to carve out time to watch the new film, Sound of Freedom, and to share my thoughts thereof with you, my readers, on Jim Caviezel’s disquieting thriller that seeks the individual to understand their part in child sex trafficking.

Sound of Freedom is a conservative thriller based on the true story of Tim Ballard, a former Department of Homeland Security special agent who has devoted himself to fighting child sex trafficking, and founder of Operation Underground Railroad, backed by Glenn Beck, a non-profit group that views the ideals of self-proclaimed freedom and healing, to rescue trafficked and exploited children, domestically and abroad. Starring Jim Caviezel, who also starred in the title role of Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ,” working on the likes of other faith-based projects for the past two decades.

The movie’s Christian undercurrent remains consistent throughout the film. With Ballard’s calling, the crime of trafficking leads him to enter affected mission fields, “Because God’s children are not for sale.” Giving viewers a captivating glimpse into the horrors of criminality, and its effects on trafficked children. Despite the film’s adjacent alt-right referencing to 4Chan and QAnon, heavily references various domestic and international conspiracy theories. Including Washington, D.C., pizza parlors being fronts for supposed pedophile rings, extending into larger conspiracies delving within the supposed culture of liberalism, and covering up pedophile rings, both domestically, and abroad.

Let me state that, as my opinion sits, currently and for the foreseeable future, these message boards are utter nonsense. However, assuming that you, like me, aren’t a right-wing fundamentalist conspiracy theorist looking for dark, faith-based suspense films, whose views range beyond extremist-based feel-good films, Sound of Freedom is worth watching. Shining authenticity and light upon crucial civil and human rights violations, domestic and abroad. Themses Hollywood has shied away from in recent decades. Shining a less than congenial light onto the egregious issues involving human trafficking. For this reason, Sound of Freedom, completed in 2018, deserves its fair dues.

This also leads to other important questions, including viewer demographics and parallels to the specific numbers of movies and television shows we’ve all seen delving into drug trafficking. Personally, even as a legal professional, and excluding any obvious affection I have for Atlantic City-based docudramas, I’d say far too many. Conversely, child sex trafficking, documentaries, and docudrama alike, due to their inherent and subjective nature, are not as publicized. Yet, Sound of Freedom informs us of those like-minded individuals, like myself, who have aided, funded, or sought out information dealing with child sex trafficking.

As the film poignantly reminds the viewer that there are more people, more children, and young adults, currently enslaved by the insidious grasp of sex trafficking than during any previous period times of legalized, non-consensual domestic slavery throughout history. Speaking to the nightmarish realities imposed on minors. As of right now, children, domestically and abroad, are forced to live through the unspeakable, unimaginable, unforgivable realities of trafficking victims. Experiences that aid, perpetuate, and fund international cocaine and opioids industries.

The purpose of Sound of Freedom is to sound the alarm, in the way that a dramatic feature film can do, and as journalism often cannot in a world of mass hysteria and political misinformation, is to take viewers into an era of child re-enfranchisement.

Moments worth mentioning include Roberto (Jose Zuniga), a single father in Honduras, who agrees to let his 11-year-old daughter, Rocio (Cristal Aparicio), and her 7-year-old little brother enter a music competition overseen by the glamorous Katy-Gisselle (Yessica Borroto Perryman), who gains control of perspective childhood participants. Instructed to drop his children off at an apartment building, where dozens of other child contestants were inside, and to return a few hours later to claim his children post-performance. When he does, the place is now dark, dank, and abandoned. Realizing he’s been deceived, seeks to find his children after finding out about the proverbial hell awaiting the siblings.

Later, Special Agent Ballard, while entrapping internet consumers of child porn, after twelve years of capturing 280-plus pedophiles, seeks to aid the case workers, wins the trust of his latest criminal discovers a link into a new trafficking chain, launches an operation to apprehend a new vein of traffickers. In doing so, saves a young boy from the film’s opening scene.

And the boy’s sister? Still trapped in the film’s central trafficking nightmare, Ballard makes her freedom, his mission. After Ballard and his wife, Katherine (Mira Sorvino), parents to six children themselves, share the film’s Christian view, with children being saved from trafficking extensions of their family- believing “All children are God’s children, and are therefore all of our children.”

Ballard, no longer connected to Homeland Security, and offered an off-the-books funding opportunity from his former supervisor, makes the decision to go after the traffickers themselves-with one week and one grand in-pocket. The film soon becomes an undercover thriller.

Ballard’s central contact, Vampiro, an American who used to launder drug money from cartels, and after spending a substantial time behind bars, helps his connection launch a fake members-only club for wealthy pedophiles, as a way of entrapping the local traffickers, including Katy-Gisselle, the beforementioned former beauty queen. A dirty, grotesque version of Miami Vice.

Ballard then travels down the river into the jungles of the Nariño Province, a rebel stronghold where the drug lord, Scorpio, has made Rocio his slave. Then, Ballard and Vampiro pose as United Nations physicians seeking to gain admittance to the rebel camp, a known cocaine factory. Whose manager, Alejandro Monteverde, stages a Rambo-esque scene. Where the deliverances become take-action, rather than take-away heart-of-darkness moments. we’ve been seeking arrives, it feels earned. In a conventional pulp way, we’ve glimpsed the heart of darkness. In typical take-action movie scenes. Leading the audience through an additional gritty, unpredictable, sinister two-hour look at saving the world’s greatest resource, our children.

This An Angel Studios release, featuring Eduardo Verástegui as producer, executive producers Jaime Hernandez, Patrick Slim Domit, John Paul Dejoria, Carlos Martinez, Anthony Robbins, Sean Wolfington, Whitney Kroenke, Sybil Robson Orr, Tim McTavish, Brian Norton, Delmont Truman, Matt Stover, Gladys Bolivar, Carlos Alvarez Bermejillo, Cecilia Coppel, Paul Hutchinson, Mickey O’Hare, Leo Severino, Christopher Tuffin, and Renée Tab, as well as direction from Alejandro Monteverde, and screenplay from Rod Barr, Alejandro Monteverde. Camera: Gorka Gómez Andreu, this is a must-see drama this season.

Angel Studio’s goal for Sound of Freedom is for two million people to go see the film in theaters the week of July 4- remembering the two million children who are trafficked annually. Propelling a movement that will save millions of kids around the world by watching this in theatres. You can find showtimes, here. For those seeking to help children, you can help pay for tickets so others may come to see the film, here. Helping the studio reach its goal of #2MillionFor2Million to help end child trafficking.

As previously mentioned, this movie was a film that everyone from the most principled to the most pragmatic can learn, feel, and empathize with. I recommend this film to others. From the film’s origin to its associated mission statement, remains its truest vantage point, “All children are God’s children, and are therefore all of our children.” While the film’s funding partners leave much to be desired, and its publicized aspects being tossed about underground media leaves my journalist’s heart saddened I can appreciate every aspect of this film. The film’s positive attitude and attribution, however disparaging in theme and available information, compared to other films and documentaries in its respective genre with greater respective information, including Lilya 4-Ever, Girl in Room 13, or The Whistle Blower, films sharing domestic trafficking practices, the film and its executive function do, however, leave my inner child at peace.

This is why I’ve partnered with Momentum who is giving one Theladyprefers2save.com reader a chance to watch this film themselves. Enter, here, for a chance to win a pair of tickets to view Sound of Freedom yourself this season in theatres-this contest will run from 7/4/23-7/7/23 at 11:59 p.m. central standard time. Enter by leaving a comment on this post as well as on my Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter pages. Good luck!

Friends, do you plan to watch this film in theatres? How do you celebrate trafficking survivors in your own walk? Leave your thoughts on this film in the comments below.