Angel Studios, the distributor behind the surprise summer hit Sound of Freedom, has premiered a new documentary series titled Live Not By Lies!. This four-part series critiques what it describes as the impact of “woke culture” on Western societies, suggesting it creates a form of “soft totalitarianism” distinct from historical examples, such as the Soviet Union’s “hard totalitarianism.”
The series, which premiered in the United Kingdom on June 30, 2023, is based on the 2020 New York Times bestselling book by conservative commentator Rod Dreher. During the London premiere, which took place in the upscale Belgravia district, Dreher expressed confidence in Vice President JD Vance, stating he believes Vance “could be the new Reagan.”
The significance of Live Not By Lies! lies in its reflection of a prevailing current within American conservative thought. Vance previously articulated similar views at the Munich Security Conference in February, where he asserted that Western European nations face a greater threat from internal cultural shifts, including perceived attacks on free speech, than from traditional adversaries like Russia and China. This perspective highlights concerns about political freedoms being eroded as societies attempt to accommodate “woke” ideologies and multiculturalism.
The series was released on the Angel Studios streaming platform on a weekly basis in April. The inaugural episode, showcased at the London event, focused on dissidents resisting Soviet oppression from behind the Iron Curtain. Notable attendees at the premiere included British politicians and media figures, such as Tory MP Mark Francois and former Mumford & Sons guitarist Winston Marshall.
In the U.S., the series had its premiere in Washington, with Vice President Vance addressing the audience. Subsequent episodes delve deeper into the assertion that many Western societies are experiencing a form of “soft totalitarianism.” Dreher emphasized the importance of combating this cultural phenomenon, stating, “We are living now in Western civilization in a time of soft totalitarianism… people are very oppressed by speech codes and fear of saying what they really think.”
The U.K. is highlighted as an “extreme example” of these concerns. Dreher remarked, “As an American, we look to Britain as our mother country… that this is happening in Britain is of course a horror to us.” The promotional materials for Live Not By Lies! feature provocative imagery, including CCTV cameras and communist flags imposed over iconic British landmarks.
The documentary series also addresses contemporary cases in the U.K., including that of Adam Smith-Connor, who was criminally convicted in 2024 for silently praying in a designated “safe zone” outside an abortion clinic in Bournemouth. Smith-Connor was ordered to pay over £9,000 in costs and received a two-year conditional discharge, which he is currently appealing. At the premiere, he expressed concerns about the implications of cultural shifts, stating, “I think our soft totalitarianism is a very comfortable one, but I think as more and more lies seep into our society… it’s going to start encroaching into more and more fields of our life.”
Angel Studios, a Christian film distributor based in Utah, previously achieved significant success with Sound of Freedom, which grossed over $250 million worldwide against a budget of just $14.5 million. The company had to navigate challenges in securing support for Live Not By Lies!, with its founder noting that “no mainstream elements” would engage with the proposal. Ultimately, the project received approval from the company’s customer-driven “Guild,” allowing for the successful fundraising of approximately $1.5 million from 3,000 supporters.
Dreher described Vice President Vance as a “serious intellectual Christian” and expressed optimism about his potential future in politics, suggesting that Vance could eventually become President. He noted the positive reactions to Vance’s Munich speech, saying that conservative friends across Europe expressed relief that someone had finally articulated their concerns.
With Live Not By Lies! now available for streaming on the Angel Studios website, it represents a significant contribution to ongoing debates about free speech and cultural identity in the West.
