Directed and co-written by Alejandro Monteverde (Little Boy (2015); Bella (2006)) and starring Jim Caviezel (The Passion of the Christ (2004); The Thin Red Line (1998); The Count of Monte Cristo (2002); Person of Interest (TV series, 2011-2016)), Mira Sorvino (Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997); Mighty Aphrodite (1995); The Girl Who Believes in Miracles (2021)), Bill Camp (12 Years a Slave (2013); Joker (2019); Birdman (2014); The Queen's Gambit (TV series, 2020)) and Yessica Borroto Perryman (No Country for Young Men (2017); Narcos: Mexico (TV series, 2021)).
Crime Drama / Thriller; 131 mins; 12+
Based on a true story in the murky underworld of child trafficking. Tim Ballard (Jim Caviezel) catches paedophiles but he wants to help the children themselves. His partner quits because of the toll the job takes but, with the support of his wife Katherine (Mira Sorvino) he first rescues a young boy at the Mexico-US border. When he learns that the boy's sister is still missing, he quits his government job and embark on a dangerous mission to save her.
He travels to South America and into Colombia where he enlists the help of a few people, including in law enforcement whose hands are tied but who still want to help. He is introduced to Vampiro (Bill Camp) who is known to the traffickers but who, unknown to them, actually frees the children after paying for them. Behind the scenes, we see Katy (Yessica Borroto Perryman) recruiting children on the pretext of modelling jobs, only for her to provide them to traffickers, herself becoming a part of the network.
The first 30 minutes is an uncomfortable watch, but it is simply setting the scene for the rescue mission which sees Tim and Vampiro, with the help of others, set up a large-scale sting operation which sees them rent an entire island and have dozens of children sent out by boat, with the aim of rescuing them after a police swoop.
When the boy's sister is not among them, Tim and Vampiro find out where she is likely to be, deep in the Colombian jungle in an area that law enforcement dare not enter. Under the guise of UN doctors, they drive in as far as they can go, then take a small boat with an outboard engine upstream to where the "outlaws" are suspected of being based....
A gut-wrenching watch, but very, very well done; delivering a very powerful message. Excellent acting and portrayal of how children are snatched and whisked away, only to end up in different locations with some in wealthy countries such as the US. After the credits, a "Special Message" delivered by the lead actor Jim Caviezel sheds more light on the plight of such children and why the film was not released until now.
Currently screening at Kinepolis in Luxembourg.
