Human Traffic (1999) - Case Study

Human Traffic is a British Independent film written and directed by Welsh filmmaker Justin Kerrigan. The film explores themes such as coming of age, drug usage and culture, club themes and relationships. It is classed as a social commentary and is centred around five friends in their twenties over the course of their drug-fueled weekend out in Cardiff.

How can Human Traffic be considered a social realist film?
A social realist film is one that takes an idea or concept that reflects real life and the social context of the era and time period it is based and the issues it raises as a result. Human Traffic captures the dance movement of 1991 when it was in fact released in 1999 and so immediately could be considered a social realist film on this basis, but it also reflects the reality of youth culture at the time, of people going out and having a good time.

How does the youth culture depicted resist or subvert mainstream society?
The film bases the fact that youths are all drug addicted hooligans when in reality it is not all young people that go out at the weekend and take drugs. However this is what mainstream society thinks of young people and the film doesn't really subvert this.

What values or morals are present in the film?
Human traffic portrays morals such as friendship and unity quite strongly, in that no matter what the situation and how bad things may be, friends will always help each other out- for example when Lu is upset, Jip gets her a ticket to go out. Also there are typical teenage views such as a feeling of resentment towards adults and parents who don't understand what it is like for them growing up in a different era.

How can you consider the film to be British? 
Human Traffic could be considered British because it was set in Britain, and details British Youth Culture. The cast is all British and so is the Director, meaning it passes the BFI's criteria for a film to be British. Also, it deals with British Identity, for instance it subverts the British National Anthem when they are in the pub singing the alternate drinking version.