MovieChat Forums > Human Traffic (2000) Discussion > My take on this film

My take on this film

posted 12 years ago by Loops2112
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I enjoyed this film. I've watched it a few times, most recently tonight. The first time I watched it was about 10 years ago and I didn't like it that much but I think it was actually envy......I used to go clubbing a lot in the 90s so back in 2001 or 02 or whenever it was I first watched it I was probably still a bit gutted that I don't do all of that anymore, but now I've got over that and enjoyed it for what it was - a nice, lighthearted look at my clubbing days.

And I say 'my' clubbing days because they were pretty similar really - the clubs way back when (especially in 1990-96 at the peak of my clubbing) did kick out about 2am - late licences came in later - so it was off over to somewhere else to finish off the evening.

The thing is, for those who hated it, I think there's got to be an outside reason for that - it wasn't a badly put together film and the scene was probably fairly similar to what a lot of people were experiencing at the time (OK so I never looked that good in a Lycra catsuit, nor did anyone I know have such a big, fancy house LOL........but I can relate to most of it). Some of the scenes were spot on for me - the highs, the lows, random conversations, the spliff politics. Of all of the clubbing films I've watched, this is probably the closest it gets to the night-out itself (my club-life was never quite the soap-opera that theirs is - we were purely out for kicks not love).

If you really did hate this, it could be because you have never experienced a night like that, are anti-drugs (it's not a film to watch for those who are), or perhaps you're just plain envious of the good time they're having......in which case I'd suggest you watch it again 10 years from now.

I imagine it's partly Justin Kerrigan's own take on his ex-party days. The story is fairly simple - no twists, no disasters - It's a bit like a Maeve Binchy for clubbers - ha ha.

[–] uponapyre 12 years ago

I've had great nights on drugs. Still do, on occasion.

I just can't stand the characters, not one of them is likable to me. The film isn't badly detected, or written, or anything I can really quantify either, but something about it annoys me...

And it's certainly not envy.

You mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, Darling!

[–] twelveboar 12 years ago

Hey Loops

Just started an eerily similar thread: my life as calmed down a lot since the debauched hedonism featured in the film and, though I often miss it, I have myself moved on... and found myself appreciating the film a lot more than I used to.

As far as envy goes, I'm glad the film points out how utterly ridiculous a lot of it all was- the mullered conversations, the sweaty ugliness, the soul-crushing comedowns: the film shows the whole experience as it was.

I still don't think it's a work of genius, but I like the way it's dated. Smoking in bars and clubs, better music, after-parties rather than going home after clubs around 5am, the sense of passion and excitement, rather than recession-cynicism. I like it a lot more now as a nostalgia trip than I did at the time.