A group of young men and women’s weekend in Cardiff that promises partying, drinking, dancing, taking drugs, and realising what happened afterwards.
Realistic, and funny as well as sad. Writer/director Justin Kerrigan hits the nail on the head with a comedy that derives from British culture. There might be exaggerations in his narrative, but they only emphasise mentalities that represented and, to a large extent, still do the youth in the United Kingdom. Cannabis, amphetamines, LSD, and ecstasy were, amongst others, what young men, women and non-binary people used to get on a night out, of course, combined with alcohol, dancing, drinking, and sex, and that would characterise a great weekend. And then face the consequences…
Understanding the 90s means that there is an understanding of the Thatcherite era, but that is not the purpose of this review. Sticking to Human Traffic, what can best describe the frenetic weekend is the psychoanalytic theory of who you are, who you want to be and who society wants you to be. Hence, there are numerous instances of how these characters would like to react to certain situations but lack the courage to do so. But in their head, they do, and you get to see those reactions. The music plays an equally significant role, as it expresses feelings that words can’t (Brilliant soundtrack).
In front of the camera, John Simm, Lorraine Pilkington, Shaun Parkes, Nicola Reynolds, and Danny Dyer offer a truckload of laughter as well as plenty of food for thought. It is really a shame that Kerrigan did not follow up with more films, as his talent showed straight away. He is coming back with Human Traffic 2 soon, though, so let’s see if he will meet the predecessor’s standards.
People shake off life’s difficulties in their own ways, sometimes individually, sometimes collectively. The British way of letting steam off has been repeatedly mocked and accused around the world (sometimes rightfully, sometimes not), and while I can see why, only those who live here can truly understand its origins. Lastly, please note that not all youth act or react in such an extravagant manner.
Thanks for reading!
Please, don’t forget to share. If you enjoy my work and dedication to films, please feel free to support me on https://www.patreon.com/kaygazpro. Any contribution is much appreciated and valued.
Solidarity for all the innocent lives that suffer the atrocities of war!
Stay safe!
