What's the Matter With Kansas?

Based on the Thomas Frank's best-seller, What's the Matter with Kansas? shows how Kansas transformed from an outpost of radicalism to a bastion of hard-core conservatism. The film follows two conservative Kansas families as their fortunes suddenly and precipitously decline, and contrasts them with an idealistic Kansas farmer who revives his state's erstwhile progressive tradition. Angel Dillard, a lifelong Republican activist, helps run the most popular booth at the Kansas State Fair: Kansans For Life. 18-year-old Brittany Barden's mission is to return America to its roots as "a Christian nation." Donn Teske describes himself as "a red-neck Kansas farmer." He also says corporate greed is "not very Christian." He lobbies the government to save his family farm and others like it. Angel and Brittany both attend Terry Fox's 6,000-member Immanuel Baptist Church in Wichita. Fox thunders from his pulpit denouncements of gay marriage, abortion and liberal politicians. He urges his flock to vote on the eve of the midterm elections. Then, the winds of change blow across Kansas. Republicans start to lose elections. Terry Fox's church splinters. And Donn Teske gets a call from Washington. Keep watching—you'll be surprised who you're rooting for…

Director:

Joe Winston