Human Traffic

This article is about the film. For Page 44 song, see Human Traffic (song).

Human Traffic
File:Human Traffic 1.jpg Still of "That's Paranoia" scene from UK release
Directed by	Justin Kerrigan
Written by	Justin Kerrigan
Produced by	Renate Aly (Executive)<br\ >Arthur Baker (Associate)<br\ >Emer McCourt (Producer)<br\ >Kevin Menton (Executive)<br\ >Allan Niblo (Producer)<br\ >Rupert Preston (Associate)<br\ >Nigel Warren-Green (Executive)<br\ >Michael Wearing (Executive)
Starring	John Simm Lorraine Pilkington Shaun Parkes Danny Dyer Nicola Reynolds
Music by	Armand Van Helden, CJ Bolland, Fatboy Slim, Jacknife Lee, Pete Heller, Ferry Corsten, Carl Cox, Dillinja, Felix Da Housecat, Orbital, Aphrodite, Death in Vegas, Primal Scream, Liquid Child, Underworld, Age of Love, Energy 52, Brainbug and Lucid
Production companies	Fruit Salad Films Irish Screen
Distributed by	Renaissance Films, Metrodome Distribution, VCI, Miramax
Release date	1999
Running time	95m 21s (original UK) 84m 14s (US version)
Language	English
Budget	£2,200,000

Human Traffic is a British independent film written and directed by Welsh filmmaker Justin Kerrigan. The film explores themes of coming of age, drug and club cultures, as well as relationships. It includes scenes provoking social commentary and the use of archive footage to provide political commentary. The plot of the film revolves around five twenty-something friends and their wider work and social circle, the latter devotees of the club scene, taking place over the course of a drug-fuelled weekend in Cardiff, Wales. A central feature is the avoidance of moralising about the impact of 1990s dance lifestyle; instead the film concentrates on recreating the "vibe, the venues and the mood" of the dance movement from the 1991 "summer of love" to the film's release in 1999. In the first 25 minutes of the film Lee, the 17 year old brother of central character Nina, enthuses "I am about to be part of the chemical generation" and lists, using the patois of the period, a series of drugs that he might experiment with later that night. The film is narrated by one of the stars, John Simm, featuring numerous cameo appearances. It is also the film debut of Danny Dyer as well as referencing another drug culture film of the era, Trainspotting.

With an original budget of £340,000, the production eventually came in for £2,200,000, the film was a financial success, taking in £2,500,000 at the UK box office alone, also enjoying good VHS and DVD sales. Human Traffic was critically well-received with largely positive reviews, and has achieved cult status, especially amongst subcultures such as the rave culture.

Problems between Kerrigan and producer Allan Niblo ensured that a sequel never materialized, and Niblo's a 2004 DVD re-release of the film, Human Traffic: Remixed, was not well received.

Production

Concept

25 years old at the time, Welsh filmmaker Justin Kerrigan wrote the film along with producer Allan Niblo, Kerrigan's teacher and "mentor" at film school. Kerrigan wanted the film to be as realistic as possible in depicting young people's lives in contemporary Britain, as well as realistically portraying drug culture and club culture, both walks of life in which Kerrigan had experience in. Kerrigan based much of the film on his own exploits, and eventually took over in a director capacity. In an edition of UK gay lifestyle magazine Attitude, actor Danny Dyer spoke about the film being partly inspired by the 1999 BBC television drama Loved Up (which also featured an early appearance from Lena Headley), and which had similar themes to the film.

There were rumors that Kerrigan and producer Allan Niblo fell out during filming.

Locations

Much of the film was shot in Cardiff, where the film also takes place. Nina's workplace, a fictionalised McDonalds, was filmed at UCI 12 Cinemas, Atlantic Wharf Leisure Village, Hemingway Road. The public house during the Friday night scene was shot at Gassy Jacks, Salisbury Road, Cathays, Cardiff. The Emporium nightclub on Cardiff High Street was used as the exterior of the fictional "Asylum" club, and Club X on Charles Street stood in as the interior. The Philharmonic public house on St Mary Street is where the Sunday pub scene was filmed, and Jip and Lulu's Sunday night walk home was also filmed in St Mary's street.

Themes

Alienation

Inter-generation alienation is a significant theme of the film including being directly referenced in a pub scene in which the the main, minor and bit players sing a revised version of the United Kingdom national anthem 38 minutes into the film. Many of the characters have family troubles which cause conflict with family members. Jip's mother is a prostitute; Koop's father lives in a fantasy world under residential psychiatric care since his wife left him. Moff still lives at home and is shown as being in continual tension with father and embarrassed when he is caught masturbating by his mother. The family relationships of the female leads are explored in less detail, although one scene portrays Lulu giving only limited details of here weekend to an uncle and aunt who are dressed as clergy. At least one contemporary review suggests that these relationships are not adequately explored in the film.

File:Human Traffic 2.jpg

Moff (Danny Dyer, right) discusses numerous alleged drug references contained in the Star Wars films with another partygoer (Richard Coyle)

Work and Unemployment

The film is also indifferent to the work ethic. Jip works at a clothing retail outlet and is comedically represented as a 'wage slave'; particularly in a scene where he is shown being anally raped by his boss, who has a barcode on his forehead and forcibly covers Jip's mouth with a £20 note. Nina has similar misgivings about her job at a fast-food restaurant where all the employees are bodypop robotically and she quits her work following sexual harassment. Moff argues with his father about preferring to be unemployed whilst Lulu is shown not enjoying her college experience.

Drugs and the Counter Culture

All the characters identify strongly with the 1990s counter-culture. All are drug users to a greater or lesser extent; Jip idolises Bill Hicks; Koop dreams of being a DJ; Moff's bedroom is festooned with anti-establishment posters. Lulu gives an extended speech about her individuality whilst Nina revels in becoming unemployed. Jip concludes his narration by saying "We're all fucked up in our own way, y'know, but we're all doing it together. We're freestylin' on the buckle wheel of life, trapped in a world of internal dialogue. Like Bill Hicks said: 'It's an insane world, but I'm proud to be part of it.'" However, the film is cautious in its portrayal of drugs use. Although there is significant dialogue about drug use contained in the film (specifically MDMA (Ecstasy), marijuana, and one sarcastic discussion about heroin and crack cocaine), there is barely any visual representation of actual drug use in the film. The characters are never shown actually ingesting Ecstasy tablets. There are a few small scenes showing secondary characters smoking what is implied to be marijuana. The only drug use by main characters shown is a scene where Jip and Koop are having an intimate conversation at a house party and they are seen cutting up a line of a non-specific white powder. They are never actually shown snorting it, but nonchalantly rub it into their gums during a discussion. This is a marked difference in comparison to most movies about drug use and/or raves and such movies almost always show the main characters ingesting drugs on-screen.

Synopsis

The film is an ensemble piece in which the five lead protagonists plan, enjoy and come down from a weekend out in Cardiff; all motivated at least in part by the need for a weekend escape from the difficulties and contradictions of their daily lives. Jip, the male lead, is suffering from sexual anxiety brought on by a series of unsuccessful liaisons. Koop, Jip's best friend, is jealous of his girlfriend Nina's easygoing and popular nature. Nina is being sexually harrassed at work she has been forced to take having failed a college interview . Lulu, Jip's best female friend and "dropping partner", has suffered infidelity in her last 3 relationships. Moff, the newest member of the group having met Jip at a warehouse party after moving from London to Cardiff, is unemployed and scrapes a living as a small time dealer, despite his father being a senior policeman. The five friends become very close, take drugs such as cannabis, ecstasy and cocaine, and "live for the weekend".

The film follows the exploits of the five friends as well as various characters they meet along the way. They go to pubs and clubs on Friday, taking along Nina's 17-year old brother Lee whose initial enthusiasm for his first drugs experience are played out in a cameo debate between Jip and a doctor. Jip gives up his ticket to Lulu, whom he has talked into coming out and is forced to talk his way into the club as the group are a ticket short. The club scene is then examined through a series of cameos including two attempts by older journalists to understand the club scene. The ensemble then joins a house party, where Lulu and Jip finally kiss and attempt unsuccessfully to make love; whereas the established couple, Koop and Nina, argue over Koop's perceptions about her behaviour. Later, the group finds out "what goes up must come down" as the effects of their drug use begin to hit home leaving them coping with feelings of illness and paranoia. They recover Lee from a group of younger partygoers he has spent the night with and make their way home.

On returning home, some of the group's issues are resolved whilst some are thrown into sharper relief. Jip makes love to Lulu, overcoming his sexual paranoia. Koop and Nina's issues are set aside. Lee has made it through the weekend without any of his concerns being realised. Moff, however, is still caught up in the paranoia caused by his extensive drug use. He argues with his parents again and is seen walking alone around Cardiff looking dejected. However, Moff joins his friends for an end of the weekend drink and having raged about his difficulties with drugs is soon joking about his excesses with his friends. The film finishes with Jip and Lulu kissing in the street after the manner of classic Hollywood films.

Cast

John Simm ... Jip Lorraine Pilkington ... Lulu Shaun Parkes ... Koop Danny Dyer ... Moff Nicola Reynolds ... Nina Dean Davies ... Lee Jan Anderson ... Karen Benson Terence Beesley ... Moff's Father Andrew Lincoln ... Felix Peter Albert ... Lulu's Uncle Eric Jan Anderson ... Karen Benson Sarah Blackburn ... Jip's Ex #2 Anne Bowen ... Moff's Grandmother Neil Bowens ... Asylum Doorman

Peter Bramhill ... Matt Stephanie Brooks ... Fleur Richard Coyle ... Andy Nicola Davey ... Jip's Ex #3 Roger Evans ... Inca Bradley Freegard ... Tyler Helen Griffin ... Jip's Mother Emma Hall ... Trixi Elizabeth Harper ... Jip's Ex #1 Carol Harrison ... Moff's Mother Jennifer Hill ... Jip's Secretary Tyrone Johnson ... Hip Hop Junkie Justin Kerrigan ... Ziggy Marlon Nicola Heywood-Thomas ... TV Interviewer

Nick Kilroy ... Herbie Robert Marrable ... Casey Louis Marriot ... Cardiff Bad Boy Danny Midwinter ... Tyrone Millsy in Nottingham ... Millsy From Roath Robbie Newby ... Karen Benson's Boyfriend Ninjah ... Tom Tom's MC Cadfan Roberts ... Jip's Mother's Client (as Cadfen Roberts) Mad Doctor X ... Koop's Workmate Philip Rosch ... Jip's Manager (as Phillip Rosch) Jason Samuels ... Bad Boy Mark Seaman ... Jeremy Faxman Lynne Seymour ... Connie Patrick Taggart ... Luke

Giles Thomas ... Martin Menna Trussler ... Lulu's Auntie Violet Larrington Walker ... Koop's Father Anna Wilson ... Boomshanka Eilian Wyn ... Doctor Tim Hamilton ... Breakdancer / Bodypopper Alicia Ferraboschi ... Bodypopper Sherena Flash ... Bodypopper Marat Khairoullu ... Bodypopper Adam Pudney ... Bodypopper Mark Seymore ... Bodypopper Algernon Williams ... Bodypopper Colin Williams ... Bodypopper Frank Wilson ... Bodypopper

Cameo appearances

• When Jip first picks up Koop in his car, the DJ heard on the radio is Pete Tong, the film's musical adviser, who has a weekly Friday night radio show on BBC Radio 1.
• The manager of the Asylum club is played by prominent DJ Carl Cox.
• Director Justin Kerrigan appears in two scenes as "Ziggy Marlon", the Junglist dancer in Koop's record shop who asks, "Any new jungle in, guy?", and in a later scene driving with Ninas brother on their way to the house party.
• Jo Brand narrates the scene when Moff (Danny Dyer) is on the sofa hallucinating and losing touch with reality. Jo Brand, now a stand-up comedian, was previously a psychiatric nurse.
• Howard Marks appears and narrates the scene on "spliff politics". Marks was a famous cannabis smuggler turned "motivational speaker" and author who wrote his autobiography Mr Nice about cannabis smuggling.
• Bill Hicks is described as a "visionary" by characters in the film and features in one scene through archive footage.

Reception

The film generated mostly positive reviews, garnering 62% positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. Film critic Colm Keaveny proclaimed this film to be Danny Dyer's "finest hour", and Irish critic James Murphy called Dyer's performance "truly remarkable". The film garnered 11 international awards and was nominated for a BAFTA.

Soundtrack

Dance Music

An important part of this film is the soundtrack; which includes some of the most famous dance music producers of the 1990s. These include Armand Van Helden, CJ Bolland, Fatboy Slim, Jacknife Lee, Pete Heller, Ferry Corsten, Carl Cox, Dillinja, Felix Da Housecat, Orbital, Aphrodite, Death in Vegas, Primal Scream, Liquid Child, Underworld, Age of Love, Energy 52, Brainbug and Lucid. However, by attaching itself to an rapidly changing scene at least one reviewer has argued that the film would rapidly date, ending up as little more than a period curiosty.

The Human Traffic: Remixed controversy

In 21 October 2002 distributors VCI announced the DVD release of Human Traffic: Remixed, promising a "modernised" soundtrack with new contemporary (2002) tracks, previously cut scenes, and "state-of-the-art CGI effects." On 18 October The Guardian revealed that rather than being a "director's cut", it was the work of producer Allan Niblo, Kerrigan's tutor and "mentor" at film school. In fact Kerrigan only learnt about the project two weeks before the release was due. He explained: "I joke about it. How I signed over the copyright (to Niblo) for a pound and then never even saw the pound. When I finished I was £25,000 in debt. I've never made a penny from the film. Legally I don't have a leg to stand on, but I signed the contract because I was very naive and very broke. Now I'm just broke." No longer able to afford living in London, where he had moved after the film's release, Kerrigan was preparing to return to his native Cardiff. Although shot on a budget of £340,000 and UK box office taking of £2.5 million, Niblo maintained that the film had not made a profit, stating: "the investment is still unrecouped." John Simm was highly critical of the new release, describing it as "cynical exploitation" and complained of Niblo's attempts to get him to appear in a sequel when he hadn't been paid anything for the first film beyond a nominal fee. Simm said that he only appeared in the Human Traffic because of Kerrigan's involvement.

The Remixed version was not well received by fans of the original film, with many pointing to the fact that the new material was at the expense of removing footage previously included. In particular, Niblo removed from the titles all shots of the 1994 anti-Criminal Justice and Public Order Act demonstration and subsequent riot, which Kerrigan had included as an implicit political statement.

American version

The version of the film released in the United States was heavily edited to remove certain British cultural references and terminology that it was presumably felt Stateside audiences would be unable to identify with or understand. These are mostly in the form of re-dubbed dialogue, such as Jip saying that he and Lulu "recently became dropping partners" being changed to "clubbing partners"; Nina's speech to the journalists in which she says she is looking forward to getting into some "hardcore Richard & Judy" becoming "hardcore Jerry Springer"; and Jip's allusion to Only Fools and Horses with "he who dares, Rodders," being rendered as "he who dares wins".

Other material was simply cut, including Lulu dumping her boyfriend; most of Koop's conversation with his father in the psychiatric hospital; and the 1991 "Summer of Love" flashback sequence — complete with glow sticks, dummies, whistles, dust masks, etc — possibly because America's "old school rave" period happened at a later date. As a result of various cuts, the US version runs to 84m 14s, compared to the original 99m 21s, losing just over 15 minutes of footage, in addition to the numerous re-dubs.

See also

• Trainspotting

External links

• Human Traffic at the Internet Movie Database
• Human Traffic at Rotten Tomatoes
• Template:Amg movie