Reds (1981)

Directed by Warren Beatty
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Paramount)

Exquisitely filmed, sprawling epic of Communism in America and Russia in the early 20th century. Warren Beatty writes, produces and directs himself as John Reed, American writer and socialist. He becomes deeply involved with the Communist movement and Louise Bryant, played wonderfully by Diane Keaton. Despite all of the international politics this is basically a love story between two strong, independent personalities. They experiment with "free love" only to find surprise, it doesn't work. They eventually get married, but politics gets in the way and they endure a long separation. Beatty ends up back in Russia, where he is used to spread Communism in the Middle East. He is reunited with Keaton, but it is bittersweet.