"Traffik" (1989) TV mini-series

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

22 April 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Crime

Plot:

The Hamburg police arrest an international businessman, charging him with smuggling heroin from Pakistan...

Plot Keywords:

Heroin | Pakistan | Minister | Government | Drugs

Awards:

7 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

 (Series Cast Summary - 43 of 45)

Bill Paterson	...	Jack Lithgow (6 episodes, 1989)
Lindsay Duncan	...	Helen Rosshalde (6 episodes, 1989)
Fritz Müller-Scherz	...	Ulli (6 episodes, 1989)
Jamal Shah	...	Fazal (6 episodes, 1989)
Talat Hussain	...	Tariq Butt (6 episodes, 1989)
Vincenzo Benestante	...	Domenquez (6 episodes, 1989)
George Kukura	...	Karl Rosshalde / ... (6 episodes, 1989)
Ismat Shah Jahan	...	Sabira (6 episodes, 1989)
Raahi Raza	...	Khushal (6 episodes, 1989)
Roohi Raza	...	Naseem (6 episodes, 1989)
Peter Lakenmacher	...	Ledesert (5 episodes, 1989)
Julia Ormond	...	Caroline Lithgow (4 episodes, 1989)
Linda Bassett	...	Rachel Lithgow (4 episodes, 1989)
Peter Bourke	...	Henderson (4 episodes, 1989)
Tilo Prückner	...	Dieter (4 episodes, 1989)
Faryal Gohar	...	Roomana (4 episodes, 1989)
Shelley Goldfarb	...	Lisa (4 episodes, 1989)
Ronan Vibert	...	Lee (4 episodes, 1989)
Rahat Kazmi	...	Dilshad (4 episodes, 1989)
Regina Pressler	...	Public Prosecutor (4 episodes, 1989)
Shabaz Durrani	...	Lal / ... (4 episodes, 1989)
Tony Mathews	...	Wallace (3 episodes, 1989)
Sarah Mortimer	...	Margaret (3 episodes, 1989)
Jennifer Susan Hibbert	...	Lotte (3 episodes, 1989)
Anthony Pfriem	...	Johann (3 episodes, 1989)
Wolfgang Rau	...	Werner (3 episodes, 1989)
Utz Richter		(3 episodes, 1989)
Holger Mahlich	...	Prulager (3 episodes, 1989)
Jonathan Docker-Drysdale	...	Lynch (2 episodes, 1989)
Michael Bertenshaw	...	Tyler (2 episodes, 1989)
Philip Middlemiss	...	Tony (2 episodes, 1989)
Sharron Bower	...	Doctor (2 episodes, 1989)
Behroze Sabzwari	...	Ghani (2 episodes, 1989)
Willy Bartelsen		(2 episodes, 1989)
Alex Leppard		(2 episodes, 1989)
Bernard Adena		(2 episodes, 1989)
Werner Schwuchow		(2 episodes, 1989)
Saquib Sheikh		(2 episodes, 1989)
Tariq Rahim	...	Pathan / ... (2 episodes, 1989)
Erla Prollius	...	Customs Officer / ... (2 episodes, 1989)
Henning Schlüter	...	Old Policeman (2 episodes, 1989)
David McAllister	...	Lynnot (2 episodes, 1989)
Martin Milman	...	Rogers (2 episodes, 1989)

Runtime:

315 min | USA:50 min (6 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English | German | Urdu

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:R | Australia:MA (episodes 1-3) | Australia:R (episodes 4-6) | UK:18 | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Cambridge University, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, UK

Company:

Carnival Films

Movie Connections:

Remade as "Traffic" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Chamber Symphony in c minor, op. 110a

Superb TV series - on par with edge of darkness

If you've not seen this then look out for it. It is available on DVD. It is a channel 4 (uk) production, possibly, in conjunction with German and danish TV. If you've seen the film it is basically the same plot. Several interleaved stories are connected through the drugs trade. The story jumps between the housewife (played by the excellent Lyndsay Duncan) trying to complete a deal on behalf of her husband, who to her surprise is an international drugs dealer (and generally dangerous man).

A minister, who is embedded in his job to the detriment of his family, is investigating the whole state of affairs with international drugs trafficking. He gets a few eye openers to the reality of heroin when his daughter turns out to have a 'problem'. He then visit Pakistan, officially, where he seems to be taught that the abuse (not simply the drug or its casual use) is the problem and also gets to sample some produce (an excellent scene where he simultaneously realises what the attraction is and why it is and why it is such a problem). In Pakistan we get to see the other side. The desperation of farmers who can barely survive turning to opium production and crime lords. The pointless attempts at subsidy resulting in the system getting rich. And a country so drenched in drugs yet only a relative fraction of the abuse we have in the west. Around all this a customs official/interpol agent tries to catch the 'dutch' connection in heroin smuggling. Seeking justice for his murdered partner. This really is a masterpiece. Super, understated performances from all the main actors in a way only European cinema can really do.

A must see. Especially if you have seen the film, they compliment each other abd present some subtly different opinions/attitudes from both sides of the pond.