Resumo:
This research analyzes the film “Sound of Freedom” (Alejandro Gómez Monteverde,
2023) beyond the screen, examining it as a sociopolitical phenomenon that engages
in narrative and moralizing disputes, rather than limiting itself to the study of its visual
and discursive elements. Drawing on the theoretical categories developed by
Antonio Gramsci—particularly his notions regarding the characteristics of
intellectuals, the Private Apparatuses of Hegemony, and methods of consensus
formation—the investigation shows why the film’s success cannot be reduced solely
to its box-office performance, since its impact was driven by the actions of social
agents who mobilized the narrative of “good versus evil.” In addition to discussing
the power of art in shaping the popular imaginary, the study explores how far-right
groups in Brazil and the United States used the feature film to lend an appearance of
authenticity to conspiracy theories and instrumentalize it in the so-called cultural war.
The results are relevant for demonstrating how audiovisual works and their
promoters can, today, contribute to the formation of political and moral hegemonies.
