Justin Kerrigan's 1999 clubbing comedy Human Traffic is set for a re-release, offering a euphoric nostalgia trip to the Cool Britannia era. The film follows a group of friends—Jip, Koop, Lulu, Nina, and Moff—as they navigate terrible jobs during the week and prepare for a massive night out on Friday. It features an ensemble cast including John Simm, Shaun Parkes, Lorraine Pilkington, Nicola Reynolds, and a young Danny Dyer in his film debut.
The film is cheerfully apolitical, pro-drugs, and pro-hedonism, capturing a moment when euphoria and uncomplicated fun had cultural cachet. Dyer's character provides comic relief with drug-induced epiphanies about Star Wars, while the narrative touches on themes like erectile dysfunction and unrequited love without the expected dramatic crises. Cameos include Howard Marks, Carl Cox, and Andrew Lincoln, then famous for his role in TV's This Life.
Critics at the time mocked a fantasy scene where the characters sing an alternative 'national anthem' about feeling alienated, but it now feels strikingly surreal. The re-release serves as a reminder of the 1990s' distinctive British film style, popularised by Trainspotting and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, but with a sweeter, loved-up tone.
