The Experts

The story unfolds on the eve of Perestroika, a period of reform that sharpens Cold War tensions. The town’s retro 1950s–1980s cultural flavor contrasts with expanding modernity, while a modernization push roils the community. The time frame anchors both the spy thriller elements and the characters’ struggle between old loyalties and new freedoms.

The setting centers on Indian Springs, a Nebraska town built to pass as an all-American community used to train Soviet spies. It doubles as a clandestine espionage backdrop, with residents and leaders playing roles to pass the facade. The action also moves to the real Soviet Union and later to New York City as characters flee and redefine their identities, before returning to actual Nebraska.

🗽 Identity & Assimilation

The film probes what it means to fit into another culture, as spies trained to blend in adopt American personas. Characters balance longing for authentic identity with the performative roles required by their covert mission. Relationships across the boundaries of country and ideology test loyalty and self-definition. The setting itself—a town designed to seem American—becomes a canvas for personal reinvention.

🕵️ Espionage & Propaganda

The plot centers on manipulation and information control, with the town serving as a living propaganda project. The modernizations pushed by Smith clash with the citizens’ sense of self, revealing how propaganda can shape reality. The protagonists’ romantic entanglements are instrumental to political consequences, highlighting the human cost of espionage. The eventual revolt demonstrates a shift from manufactured truth to personal conviction.

🕊️ Freedom & Rebellion

When Travis and Wendell refuse to renounce democracy, they spark a broader challenge to authority. The crew’s defection and the town’s uprising emphasize the value of political freedom over indoctrination. The escape sequence and relocation underscore the resilience of community and the desire for authentic life, even after living under a manufactured freedom. The film ends by choosing real Nebraska over a carefully staged illusion.