The Red Nightmare documentary

1. In the beginning of the film, it appears to be an ordinary American small town, but where is it? (Between 1:00 and 2:30).        
  The town is actually a town in the USSR where spys in training are living to study capitalism and America for when the Communists take over America.



2. What is the father's (Jerry) attitude toward his responsibilities, such as attending a Parent-Teacher Meeting (PTA) and going to Army Reserve training (6:20)?      
  Jerry does not think his responsibilities are important.  He does not believe that he is important to any of the organizations and does not make a difference.  He would rather do things for himself, like go bowling or watch TV, than deal with his responsibilities.



3. According to the film, if all people had the attitude that Jerry has, what is the Red Nightmare? (To answer this question, what does Jerry witness or experience in a Communist America at the: 

• Town Square
• His Daughter's depature (note the soldier is her boyfriend, Bill)
• the PTA
• His job
• His younger children's' education    
• and at the church     

  The Red Nightmare is that everything is run my the army, children are taken from their parents, and there are no rights or God.  The militarist government is shown by all the soldiers in the Town Square and how the soldiers, oen of whom was the man who wanted to marry his daughter, just come in and take his daughter.  The government also convinces the children that they cannot stay at home so his daughter leaves to go help the Communists by working at a farm and the young children want to go to a state school because their parents will not tach them the proper Communist ways.  Therefore, Communism destroys the family.  Jerry is also affected by the controlling and careless government when they force him to do a certain amount of work in one day even if it is not possible.  There is also a threat that everyone will be punished if he does not finish it. Another time the Communist ways are forced upon the people is how church is replaced with a museum in which the USSR claims t have invented everything that was ever useful, even though it is not true.  This is basically saying that the Communists will take away God. Also, the way Jerry throws over the tables is almost like Jesus that day with the merchants in the temple.  Clearly, Jerry's experience shows that the Red Nightmare is that the Communists will take away rights (such as freedom of speech, which is shown when Jerry is reported for statements he made), choices, the family, and God.

4. What is Jerry's experience like at trial?    
  Jerry's experience at the tril was terrifying.  He was never really told what he was being charged with so it was difficult to defend himself.  Also, he was offered no representation and he was guilty until he could prove himself innocent, which was impossible because there was no real jury and the judges were all officials of the USSR.  The trial was not at all just.

5. Consider this film in the context of the Red Square Era. If you were a high school student 50 years ago, how would you have reacted to this film in a history class?

  I would have been frightened by this film.  This film shows that the Communists will attack all of the things I value.  I would be terrified of Communism and this is not even mentioning the fact that the entire film hinted that the USSR was the Twilight Zone.