There was a lot of juxtaposing the two systems, mostly with the intent of making the communists look cruel and incompetent. I don't doubt that it was accurate to have East Berlin look drab and miserable but the bit that got me most was:
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The deliberate contrast between the two interrogations, where the Soviets were essentially torturing Powers and waking him regularly with bright lights and shouting, but the Americans were lovely and sweet with Abel, bumbling around while he got up at his own pace.
There was also the ending, where they made it look like Abel would be going back to be treated cruelly (or possibly executed).