Two boyhood friends from Midland, Texas, Bradley Crowder and David McKay, find themselves increasingly out of step with their neighbors as they react against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. After moving to Austin, they go to a presentation at a local bookstore about protesting the 2008 Republican National Convention (RNC) in Minneapolis-St. Paul. There they are approached by a charismatic older activist, who suggests that they work together to prepare for the demonstrations. Better this World follows the radicalization of Crowder and McKay under the tutelage of revolutionary activist Brandon Darby. The results: eight homemade bombs, multiple domestic terrorism charges and a highstakes entrapment defense hinging on the actions of a controversial FBI informant.
A dramatic tale of patriotism, loyalty, crime and betrayal, Better this World goes to the heart of the war on terror and its impact on civil liberties and political dissent in America. As an outreach tool, it challenges viewers to reflect on the meaning of democracy and how well the United States lives up to its most cherished ideals.
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