"Do you want to go see that new christian movie, Priceless?" I would ask.
"Oh no thanks......" almost every one I asked muttered back.
"Why?"
"Well no offense but christian movies tend to be sort of, well.....lame...."
Is this a conversation you and your friend had? Were you the one that said Christian movies were lame? There is nothing to be ashamed of my friend. A lot of Christian movies tend to be stereotypical or the producers try and make it a goody good movie which makes Christians frown upon how Hollywood portrays us and only because we believe in Christ. Over the last couple of years Hollywood has started to acknowledge christian filmmakers and movies, for example; God's Not Dead (2014) Heaven is for Real (2014) Miracles from Heaven (2016) and one in particular religious film was so good they created a sequel bring us God's Not Dead 2 (2016) and now Priceless comes in with such a heavy problem being addressed, sex trafficking.
I wasn't sure even if I wanted to see this movie when I first heard about it but as soon as I found out who the main character was I was most definitely going to see this movie. Joel Smallbone plays James in Priceless, you may recognize him from the film, Like a Country Song where he starred alongside Billy Ray Cyrus or he may seem familiar because of his band, For King & Country which incorporates two very important things in his life; Our Father who is the inspiration for most if not all the songs they write and their hometown Nashville, Tennessee depending on the song you can probably catch a little bit of twang in between the drums and guitar solos.
(Summary of the movie contains spoilers)
James has lost his wife, due to death, his little girl, due to his
uncontrollable drinking habits, and his belief in God by nothing ever going his
way. He can barley hold down a job so when a job offer comes up he can’t turn
down he doesn’t ask any questions; he agrees to drive a storage truck with the
faded words ‘Party Time’ painted on the side. Everything is fine until James begins to grow tired which makes attention span weak.
A big rig, coming right
for him forces James to drive his truck right into the embankment of the
opposite side of the road. He does not get badly injured but worries that he is
hallucinating when he hears soft cries coming from inside the storage unit in
the back of his truck he breaks into the locked area and finds two girls (who we learn are sisters) in
tattered clothes and tear stained faces in the corner of the truck.When he delivers them to where he was told to
go he realizes he has just contributed to an unbearable disgusting crime, sex
trafficking. After the buyers leave the Motel parking lot James knows he has to
go on a mission to bring the girls back to safety but he knows he could die in
the process. As the story goes on he realizes that the eldest sister, Antonia
played by Bianca Santos lost her virginity in the most horrendous way possible
he now understands he isn’t just saving Antonia and her sister, Maria but many
other girls who are being sold to men who are just looking for one night
pleasures.
James partners up with the manager of the
motel, Dale who is aware from the beginning what is happening and what will
happen if James doesn’t take action right away. James is able to safely save
Antonia two times but she will not go without her sister, there is no way she
can
leave
her sister surrounded by the broken women who had given up their worthlessness.
James defeats the odds and consequences but loses his friend Dale before he can
understand his daughter gave up her virginity because of her brokenness.
I strongly encourage anyone to see this movie, not only because of the message but of the awareness it brings to something so many of us look past. It is still a problem that is going on and this movie shows that from a christian point of view which is amazing. If you haven't seen the movie, read the book, or even heard the song by Joel Smallbone and his brother Luke Smallbone's band, For King & Country please do so. You won't be disappointed.
Living Fearlessly,
Sammy
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