An American soldier is unable to cope with the realities of daily life after he returns from his tour of duty in Iraq. Francesco Lucente made short films prior to his first two features, The Virgin Queen Of St. Francis High (1987) and The Inner Voice (1995). The latter premiered at the Henri Langlois Film and Television Festival in Tours, France. Writing jobs on Frontline (1999) and 2001: A Space Travesty (2000) followed. Badland is his third film.