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Traffik
Traffik
Actors: Bill Paterson, Lindsay Duncan, Fritz Müller-Scherz, Jamal Shah, Talat Hussain
Genres: Drama, Television, Mystery & Suspense
NR     2009     5hr 15min

As seen on Masterpiece Theatre Remastered 20th Anniversary Edition Twenty years after this six-part British miniseries won an International Emmy&reg, a newly remastered version brings it to life more vividly than ever...  more »

     
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Movie Details

Actors: Bill Paterson, Lindsay Duncan, Fritz Müller-Scherz, Jamal Shah, Talat Hussain
Creator: Peter Ansorge
Genres: Drama, Television, Mystery & Suspense
Sub-Genres: Drama, Drama, Mystery & Suspense
Studio: Acorn Media
Format: DVD - Color,Full Screen
DVD Release Date: 09/29/2009
Release Year: 2009
Run Time: 5hr 15min
Screens: Color,Full Screen
Number of Discs: 2
SwapaDVD Credits: 2
Total Copies: 0
Members Wishing: 4
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Languages: English
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Member Movie Reviews

Samuel K. (Solvanda)
Reviewed on 7/6/2018...
Watched this years ago, and much of it really stuck in my head. Subsequently have watched this several times more now. Originally aired on Masterpiece Theatre in 1990. Bill Paterson's character is a Scottish Home Office minister who has been busy combatting illegal heroin trade (a big problem in Britain back then.) Work strikes close to home when his daughter (a young Julia Ormond) gets addicted. His life takes a big roller coaster ride trying to locate her and then when he does, how to handle the whole withdrawal scenario.

His work has become quite personal all of the sudden. He takes a trip to Pakistan to try to really wrap his head around what is really going on. This is where this miniseries shines. The surreal lives of the poppy growers are revealed in depth. There are some gut wrenching scenes throughout. The score is haunting. After all his Eastern experiences, and figuring out the routes the drugs are taking back home, Paterson gives a rather striking speech at series' end which is very thought provoking.

Soderbergh's movie "Traffic" was inspired by this series. And then there was a 2004 American series based on both the movie and original series, which was also pretty good. Overall, this original series is vastly superior to the others.
1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Movie Reviews

Far outshines the film
Charlotte Vale-Allen | CT USA | 06/09/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Traffik is one of the most memorable viewing experiences I've ever had. Not only does it give a very clear view of the economic necessity that is the driving force in the lives of the people who cultivate the poppy fields, but it also gives sharply focused insights into how ill-informed politicians make hay on a hot-potato issue. It's only when the effects of drug abuse come home--to Bill Paterson, the splendid Scottish actor who plays a member of parliament whose daughter falls victim to addiction, and to Lindsay Duncan, the wife of the importer--that we see the lengths people will go to, for all sorts of reasons, to engage in the traffic, going one way or the other. Duncan is extraordinary in this series; her transformation from innocent wife to determined conspirator is stunning. This, the original Traffik, makes the film version look small and choppy and incoherent. Benicio Del Toro's performance in the film is, without doubt, a fine one. But when it takes a viewer at least half the movie to figure out who the good and bad guys are, you've wasted a lot of time. Traffik doesn't waste a single frame. It's a breathtaking ride from start to finish and leaves the film version in the dust.If you saw the movie and thought it was okay, see the TV series and you'll see something great. Years after the fact, there are scenes in the mini-series that will come back to haunt you. This is a profoundly affecting, deeply compelling drama."
Region 1 release = 3 stars. Region 2 release = 5 stars.
John | London, UK | 04/15/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)

"Nothing much to add, apart from saying that the region 2 release has been superbly produced, so if you want to avoid the poor US market adaptation and have a multi region player, purchase the region 2 version from Amazon UK.It was really dumb to change the original subtitling to dubbing.If you can take it raw, watch Traffik. If you can't, watch the movie."
Definitely better than the Hollywood production
Hamood Rehman | Houston, TX United States | 07/04/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was one of the few people in the world who watched this mini-series before the Hollywood production. I must admit the Hollywood version was excellent as well, considering the fact that it didn't have time to build up on characters. This miniseries is one of the most gripping and well-made productions ever. Although it is six hours long, you don't feel that it is and don't even remember looking at the clock while watching it. The lengths at which the production team has gone through to make sure everything looks authentic is admirable. This mini-series was filmed at a time when Pakistan was struggling with its poppy production. I'm glad to say that Pakistan has successfully rooted out the poppy cultivation within its borders, thanks to efforts made by this movie and the like. However, Afghanistan has more than made up for the loss.
Overall, an excellent movie, except for a few overdone scenes, especially the last dramatic climactic scene."