Law Meets Cinema

Freedom of expression is one of the most basic human rights in a democratic society. Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) says that everyone has the right to share their opinions and ideas, as long as it follows the law and as long as it is for the greater good. This right also includes being able to receive and share information without any interference from the government (European Court of Human Rights, 1950).

However, with great freedom comes great responsibility. This right must be practised responsibly to ensure it does not lead to violence (European Court of Human Rights, 1950).



Freedom of expression is not something that is found only in law, it is also something explored in art and media. Creating films to express and share ideas, has been one of the best methods of freedom of speech media.

Freedom of Expression in Films

A great example of this is Sound of Freedom (2023), a film where the director used his freedom of expression to highlight the horrible reality of child trafficking.

Scene from Sound of Freedom (2023)

Sound of Freedom (2023) is a film about the global problem of human trafficking, especially children. The filmmakers took a big risk by creating this film since it is about such a tough and sensitive topic. The aim of this film is to inform, educate, and inspire people to take action, all while being cautious and careful about how to tell the story.

By showing the harsh truth about child trafficking, the film uses its platform to speak for those who cannot. It exposes truths that are often ignored or hidden. By doing this, Sound of Freedom (2023) makes use of the main purpose of freedom of expression, which is to shine a light on important issues and encourage the audience to see the difficult realities and take action.

Films like Sound of Freedom (2023) are not the only ones to make their voices heard. Throughout history, many films have used freedom of speech to expose social injustices, challenge the government and address anything that is a problem for the people.

For example, in The Great Dictator (1940) Charlie Chaplin used humour to criticize Adolf Hitler and fascism when speaking out was dangerous (Britannica Kids, 2024). To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) is another film, where they addressed racial injustice in the American South (Lee, 2019).

Challenges and Controversies

Freedom of expression in films isn’t always easy. Many films have faced censorship, bans, or backlash for getting into controversial topics.

For example, the film The Interview (2014), a comedy about a plot to kill North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, caused international controversy and even cyberattacks. The film’s release tested the limits of freedom of expression during tensions between the countries (North Korea threatens war on the US over Kim Jong-un movie, 2014).

Another example of this is actually about Sound of Freedom (2023). During the showing of Sound of Freedom (2023), more than one cinema had technical issues and had to stop the film. Fans speculated that this was a pre-planned stunt to hide the truth of the film from the audience. Although this is a conspiracy theory, and we don’t know exactly why this happened, fans found it strange that these issues were happening only during this film (Murray, 2023).


Conclusion

Freedom of expression is a great thing to have in any democratic society. It lets people express their concerns and make a change. In the film/media industry, films are a powerful way to tell stories about important issues and try to make a change. Films like Sound of Freedom (2023) show how films can shed light on serious problems, give a voice to those who are ignored, and push others to help battle these issues.

But with the right of freedom comes responsibility. As viewers, filmmakers, and democratic people, we need to protect freedom of expression by making sure it’s used for the greater good. By doing this, we can keep this right as a method to find the truth, seek justice, and positively change the world.

References 

Beaumont-Thomas, B. (2014). North Korea complains to UN about Seth Rogen comedy The Interview. [online] The Guardian. Available at: https://web.archive.org/web/20140730031714/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/jul/10/north-korea-un-the-interview-seth-rogen-james-franco [Accessed 29 Dec. 2024].

Britannica Kids. (2024). The Great Dictator. [online] Available at: https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/The-Great-Dictator/626807 [Accessed 29 Dec. 2024].

European Court of Human Rights (1950). European Convention on Human Rights. [online] Available at: https://www.echr.coe.int/documents/d/echr/Convention_ENG.

Lee, H. (2019). Writings by Harper Lee. [online] Available at: https://www.gale.com/binaries/content/assets/gale-us-en/open-access/literature/openaccess_literature_fastfacts_tokillamockingbird.pdf.

Murray, C. (2023). Box Office Hit ‘Sound Of Freedom’ Controversy—Including QAnon Ties And False Claims Theaters Are Sabotaging Screenings—Explained. Forbes. [online] 11 Jul. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2023/07/11/box-office-hit-sound-of-freedom-controversy-including-qanon-ties-and-false-claims-theaters-are-sabotaging-screenings-explained/.

North Korea threatens war on US over Kim Jong-un movie. (2014). BBC News. [online] 26 Jun. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-28014069. 

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