Red Dawn is about a Russian-Cuban-Nicaraguan-Hispanic invasion of America. A small group of American teenagers calling themselves Wolverines engages in guerilla tactics against the occupiers. The Wolverines are insurgents. This is the major irony, and the screenwriters make the most of it, being close in time to the Vietnam War. Colonel Bella (played by Ron O’Neal) is the local Spanish-speaking commander. Another irony is that he was once an insurgent himself who used guerilla tactics, but now, to protect his men’s lives, he orders them to travel outside “secured areas” only in squad size.  The Russian in charge is Bratchenko. … Continue reading Irony and Role Reversal in Red Dawn (1984)