Niche Brain: Human Traffic

A 1999 film written by Justin Kerrigan, directed by David Buckingham. Five friends let loose one weekend at the local club/rave scene. That's it.

This has quickly proceeded to become one of my favorite films of all time. It runs like a Friends episode, except with drugs, clubs and pubs, and illegal substances that won't go well on prime-time. Its been criticized to have no point, no plot line, no tension or conflict, but I say who cares? Why does every film about drugs need to be moralizing? The only people who don't like this film must have never experienced the unrestrained unity portrayed in it. Its a perfect, heart-felt snapshot of the best of today (or slightly yesterday's) youth subculture. That's all it is, and it doesn't pretend to be anything else. There's no before and afters, no fall-outs or long term effects. It's not an epic. Just because it's momentary doesn't make it unimportant. As Jip says "ultimately, we just want to be happy", and be it happy for a night or a moment, that's all we're chasing after, and its all worth it. Those who know it love it.
Most of all, it has a happy ending. Not all happy endings are effective, but this one is. The temporary but effective escapism is real, The music, the characters, the mood, it stays and stays, and that's an indication of a good film. The fact that what stays is positive, is good, makes it an enjoyable, rewatchable, and therefore a 'favorite' film of mine.

I can rave about it forever (pun, haha) but bottom line is: awesome film that I fell in love with. Jip! Moff! Lulu! Nina! Koop! I've only known them for two hours, seen a brief weekend of their lives, but they feel like old friends.

So many good things, least of all JOHN SIMMS!