Reds (1981) | How Woke Is It?

Our VerdictWoke

68%

Reds1981

In a free society the right to critique art is essential and protected speech. These reviews reflect personal opinions and not statements of fact.

What We Think

'Reds' is a product of its subject matter, so it’s not 'woke' by modern standards, but it does push a strong leftist narrative with little respect for competing cultural or ideological views. It’s historically grounded but far from a celebration of traditional foundations.

Score Breakdown

Compromised:Narrative Integrity

Woke

What is this?

While 'Reds' is primarily concerned with telling the historical story of John Reed and the Russian Revolution, it does, in our view, place a heavy focus on Reed’s progressive ideals at the expense of a more nuanced portrayal of opposing perspectives. Still, it avoids today's levels of identity-driven casting or storylines.

Compromised:Cultural Foundations

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What is this?

The film leans hard into the themes of socialist revolution, portraying traditional religious and family structures as either outmoded or obstacles to progress. While this is historically rooted, the plot does elevate revolutionary ideology over more traditional values frequently.

Compromised:Ideological Monoculture

Woke

What is this?

Alternative perspectives, especially non-left ideologies, are given little serious consideration. Characters representing traditional values are often shown as either unsympathetic or irrelevant, and the narrative rarely questions its central ideological assumptions.

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Disclaimer: In a free society the right to critique art is essential and protected as a form of free speech and freedom of expression. The reviews and commentary on this site represent personal opinions and interpretations. They are not statements of fact and should not be taken as factual claims about any individual, company, or creative work.