Human Traffic

“The weekend has landed. All that exists now is clubs, drugs, pubs and parties. I’ve got 48 hours off from the world, man. I’m gonna blow steam out of my head like a screaming kettle. I’m gonna talk codshit to strangers all night. I’m gonna lose the plot on the dancefloor, the free radicals inside me are freaking, man! Tonight I’m Jip Travolta, I’m Peter Popper - I’m going to never never land with my chosen family, man. We’re going to get more spaced out than Neil Armstrong ever did. Anything could happen tonight, you know? This could be the best night of my life! I’ve got 73 quid in my back burner, I’m gonna wax the lot man! The milky bars are on me!”

Lauded as the most definitive club-culture film ever, Human Traffic follows a group of good-time chasing twentysomethings on a night out in Cardiff. The only difference however between this film and most of the other offerings attempting to portray clubland is that there’s no moral story, no overdosing on drugs and no deaths - just a realistic look at a great night out. And what a night!

The story begins with Jip (Simm) realising that there must be more to life than his dead-end job selling jeanswear. Further confused by his inability to perform (note his rather self-declaring T-shirt), he organises a night out with his circle of friends. There’s his true love, Lulu (Pilkington), lively pal Nina (Reynolds), and her jealous boyfriend Koop (Parkes) and loudmouth drug-dealer Moff (Dyer) to name but a few.

The group find themselves out and about in Cardiff with the only rule being to have fun! They blag their way into clubs, take various drugs, dance and generally have it large. That is, until the comedown....

Radio One DJ Pete Tong’s compilation soundtrack is a perfect accompaniment to the film, featuring the likes of Fatboy Slim and CJ Bolland, it creates a unique adrenaline-pumping atmosphere that needs to be heard in L3 to be believed.

The likeable characters, hilarious dialogue and frankness of this film are brought to life without big-name actors, and this makes for an even more realistic portrayal of clublife. In fact after this film you’ll just want to go out and party! The weekend has truly landed and you’d be a fool to miss one of the greatest nights out ever!

Alan “Nice one bruvver!” Chan