COLLECTION · Series · 1989

Traffik

Name: Traffik
Genre: Crime, Drama
Duration: 315 min
Rating: 7.6

Traffik is a 1989 British television serial about the illegal drugs trade. Its three stories are interwoven, with arcs told from the perspectives of Afghan and Pakistani growers and manufacturers, German dealers, and British users. It was nominated for six BAFTA Awards, winning three. It also won an International Emmy Award for best drama. The 2000 crime drama film Traffic, directed by Steven Soderbergh, was based on this television serial. In turn, the 2004 American television miniseries Traffic was based on both versions.

Source: TMDB

* 7.6 (21)CrimeDramaUnited Kingdom

Directors

Alastair Reid

Countries

United Kingdom

Studios

Channel 4 · Picture Partnership · Channel 4 Television · Carnival Films · Picture Partnership Productions · Camerapix

Runtime

315 min/ep

Age rating

TV-14

Release

22/06/1989

Score

7.6 / 10 (21)

Awards and nominations

Winner at International Emmy Award — Drama
Winner at BAFTA Awards — Drama Series or Serial
Winner at BAFTA Awards — Design
Winner at BAFTA Awards — Film Cameraman
Winner at BAFTA Awards — Film Sound
Nominated at BAFTA Awards — Film Editor
Nominated at BAFTA Awards — Original Television Music

Where to watch

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Seasons and episodes

Season 1

6 episodes · 1989

Episode 1. The Farmer

1989-06-22 · 52 min

In Hamburg, a popular young German businessman is arrested and accused of being a drugs trafficker. His British wife, Helen, is faced with social and financial ruin and decides to take the family's future into her own hands. Jack…

Episode 2. The Addict

1989-06-26 · 52 min

Jack Lithgow returns to Britain from Pakistan to find that his daughter, Caroline, has been arrested on heroin charges after a student party. Jack confines her to the family home and watches her night and day until he thinks she's off the…

Episode 3. The Criminal

1989-07-03 · 52 min

Kurt, a German casino owner who financed Karl's heroin business, is hounding Helen. When she says she can't return the money he kidnaps one of her children. Desperate, Helen goes to Britain, where she gets a short-term loan from a corrupt…

Episode 4. The Chemist

1989-07-10 · 52 min

Jack Lithgow is still under heavy pressure from his job at the Home Office, but worse, his daughter takes a drugs overdose and is hospitalised. He books her into an expensive residential clinic to try and get her off heroin. Fazal…

Episode 5. The Politician

1989-07-17 · 52 min

Jack returns to Pakistan to sign the aid agreement. Encouraged by the lawyer Roquia, he presses further, demanding specific arrests before he will sign. His political pressure on the authorities to take more action against known…

Episode 6. The Courier

1989-07-24 · 52 min

On his return to Britain, Jack is immediately sacked for his extraordinary behaviour in Pakistan. Not only this, but his wife has moved out, and Caroline has run away from the rehabilitation clinic. In Germany, Ulli believes he has…

Cast by season