TRAFFIC
US, 2000, 147 minutes. Colour.
Michael Douglas, Benicio Del Toro, Catherine Zeta- Jones, Don Cheadle, Dennis Quaid, Luis Guzman, Miguel Ferrer, Clifton Collins Jr, Albert Finney, Amy Irving, Erika Christensen, Topher Grace, James Brolin, D.W. Moffett, Stephen Bauer, Tomas Milian, Jacob Vargas, Peter Riegert, Benjamin Bratt, Viola Davis.
Directed by Stephen Soderberg.
Films need to explore what is happening on the level of drug dealers, on the level of addicts, on the level of rehabilitation. That is what Traffic does. Director Steven Soderbergh expressed the hope that the wide public would find the film entertaining but that something might happen as they watch without their realising it and that they would start to think about and discuss the serious issues afterwards. With the critical success of the film in the US and its popularity, it could well contribute signficantly to reflection on drug issues.
In fact, it is three stories in one, skilfully interwoven so that we are drawn into the world of the Mexican cartels and their ruthlessness, the work of the drug enforcement agencies in San Diego and the high level of Washington policy as well as drug abuse by affluent teenagers in the mid-west cities. (Screenwriter, Stephen Gaghan won the Golden Globe)
Different audiences will find different stories more interesting. There is more action in the operations of the Mexican police (which director Soderbergh has filmed with a yellow filter to give strong impression of the heat and desert and has used a handheld camera to give a sense of documentary realism). Benicio del Toro (also a Golden Globe winner) is the star of these episodes, a Tijuana cop with a conscience but oppressed by the corrupt system.
There is more action and drama in the San Diego story which is filmed more conventionally with Don Cheadle as an agent protecting a witness and Catherine Zeta- Jones as a wealthy wife who finds her husband arrested and becomes as ruthless as he.
The most serious story is that of the Ohio judge who is asked to head the Government's anti-drug agency but who discovers that he has to cope with his daughter's addiction. Michael Douglas is convincing as the judge.
Steven Soderbergh also directed Erin Brockovich. He has shown a strong interest in today's social problems, reminding us that a film can be a powerful way of dramatising the issues and spreading this awareness. One of the problems is that the most graphic story is that of the judge's 16 year old daughter, her addiction and treatment. But the overall film has been classified 18, so that the under 18s cannot see this sometimes horrific warning about drug-taking.
1. The acclaim for the film? Its popularity? Its Oscars and awards?
2. The adaptation from a British miniseries? Transferring the issues to the United States? The issues of the 1990s, the year 2000?
3. The structure of the film, the many stories, the different elements, the blue and the yellow shadings, the intercutting and editing of the elements of the stories, making for suspense and continued drama?
4. The story of Javier, in the desert, recounting his nightmare about the death of his mother, the drug plane landing, with Manolo, the truck, the drugs, the arrest, the arrival of the army and General Salazar? His work in Tijuana, explaining to the tourists about bribing the police to recover their car? The interview with the authorities? Salazar and his relying on him, the plan to wipe out the Tijuana cartel? The identification of Frankie Flowers, Francisco Flores? The assassin, Javier and the disguise, meeting in the gay bar, abducting him, taking him to General Salazar? The military interrogation, his being stripped, naked, tortured? The general trying to win him over? Getting the addresses for the contacts? The sequence with the captioned report from General Salazar? Its being visualised in action? The Tijuana cartel and its destruction? The visualising of Javier and Manolo? Frankie and his being pushed out of the car – and let loose to be pursued in Tijuana? Manolo’s wife, asking Javier, concerned? General Salazar in Mexico, his girlfriend? The plans, Javier discovering the truth about General Salazar and the head of the cartel who allegedly died having plastic surgery, but didn’t? In America, going to the pool, the chat with the DEA agents? Manolo’s disappearance, his wife’s concern? Manolo and Javier taken, the cuffs? Digging their graves, Manolo being shot, the test for Javier? His going to the United States, giving the information, feeling like a traitor, returning to Mexico in the back of the car? The deals? Salazar’s death? The press conference?
5. Agents Monty and Ray Castro, the comic pair, the jokes, Monty not laughing? Going to the office, the encounter with Eduardo Ruiz? The discussions, the stakeout hut, the timing, the cars arriving, the raid? Monty shot? The chase and Eduardo’s escape? His being captured? In hospital, the discussions, his asking for immunity? The transition to the arrest of Carlo Ayala? Eddie and his being interrogated? Explaining the systems? The analogy of the DEA like the soldiers still on Saipan not knowing the war and the world had changed? His being in the witness protection? The transition to Helena Ayala? Her shock at her husband’s arrest? Her social background, chatting with the ladies at lunch? The effect on her husband, going to see him in prison? Her discussions with Arnie, the management of the money, the court case? Her protection of her son? Monty and Ray and their surveillance, listening to the talk, Arnie and his turning up the music? Knowing that the surveillance was on? Helena and the court hearing, her husband being denied bail? The top class lawyers and their presenting evidence? Her discussions with her husband in prison, her anger with him? The DEA belief that she did not know anything about the drug-running? The importation? Helena being threatened by the cartels, the threat of the abduction? Helena and the relationship with Arnie, his flirting with her, his praise of her survival skills? The threats, the demands by the cartel for three million dollars? Her developing her skills, the phone calls, the money management? The irony of bringing lemonade to Monty and Ray? Asking them to protect her child? The collage of her memories, finding the film strips, the information about Frankie Flowers, employing him? The court hearing, the witnesses? Her talking with Frankie? His placing the bomb under the car, his talking to her on the phone? His being shot? Ray Castro and his getting into the car, his death? The court case lapsing? The frustration of the prosecutors? Her going to visit Juan Obregon, the discussion, the bluff, her standing firm, the cocaine – not in the doll but the doll itself, the test? Her becoming the boss of the drug importation? The release of her husband, the party, his confrontation of Arnie, Arnie’s plan and his wanting the money? Carlos ordering his death? The interruption to the party, Monty and his confronting them, slipping the bug under the table – and the future of their enterprise and the surveillance from the agents?
6. Robert Wakefield and the story of the official American fight against drugs? Wakefield at the hearings, his authority, his being presented with the new job, the range of well-wishers, going to his office in Washington, Jeff Sheridan as his adviser? His visit to General Landry? Landry handing over, after being edged out, his allegory about the two letters when there was a difficulty? The importance of the collage of advice at the reception, the range of opinions about drugs and combating them? The focus on Caroline, her drug-taking, her relationship with Seth? His leading her on? The other friends and their drug-taking? Her place in the family, relationship with her father, resentment? Her mother knowing the truth? Her mother unable to control her? Seth and his drinking, the drug-taking, Caroline and her rebellion? The chatter, the highs – and their talk of rebellion? The collapse of the young man, the overdose, not phoning because of fears of the parents and the hour of the morning, taking the victim to hospital, abandoning him on the steps? Caroline being interrogated, her list of her abilities – and the question of why she did drugs? Her parents taking her home, her mother’s tears? Her father’s interrogation? Their meeting with Caroline, the different stances, giving her room to move or not? Robert and his strictness? Caroline and her continued drug use, in the bathroom? In the room with Seth? Her father sending her to AA, the various characters and their speeches, her explanation of herself, her relapse, running away? Going back on the drugs, the sexual encounter with the dealer? Robert Wakefield and his decision to go to the front line, to San Ysidro? The information about drugs and the border? The prospect of changes in relationships between Mexico and the US, freedom for drugs to come in? The visit to El Paso, the intelligence centre? Watching across the border? On the plane, trying to brainstorm – and his helpers not having many ideas? Wanting to think outside the box? Barbara and her accosting Robert, the clash? The later apology? His catching Caroline in the bathroom? Salazar and his becoming the Mexican authority, Robert going to Mexico, the discussions with Salazar, Javier present? The return home, the search for Caroline, the reconciliation with Barbara, the news of Salazar’s arrest? The search for the dealer, his coming to the classroom, taking Seth, Seth and his arguments about drug-taking and white dealers and black dealers? The confrontation with the dealer, the gun, Robert’s fear? Following Seth, finding Caroline? His speech with the chief of staff, the chief of staff backing him? The chief of staff wary about the daughter? His giving his speech, the press conference, the decision to resign?
7. The build-up to a conclusion, Eddie being taken to court, the lawyer getting the postponement because of a case the judge was involved in? Eddie wanting to walk back to the hotel, the argument, the sniper, shooting Frankie before he shot Eddie? Back at the hotel, the breakfast, the false breakfast, Eddie being poisoned? The case being dismissed – and the reaction of the prosecutors? Eddie and his taunt to Monty about the futility of what they were doing in their investigations? The end of Robert’s story, going to the AA with his wife, supporting Caroline, her speech? Helena and Carlos the party, the death of Arnie, the bug under the table?
8. Javier and the achievement of what he wanted? Not money? His concern about the safety of children – and the children playing baseball safely during the final credits?
9. The achievement of the film? Interest and entertainment? Its perspective on the war against drugs – and in retrospect how successful? Especially with the Mexican drug wars in the first decade of the 21st century? Mexico and its seeming inability to control drugs?
