Pubdate: Fri, 30 Mar 2001
Source: Washington Times (DC)
Section: Part A, Culture, Et Cetera, Pg A2
Copyright: 2001 News World Communications, Inc
Contact:  http://www.washtimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/492
Author: - Gary Rosen
Note: Excerpt of article " 'Traffic' and the War on Drugs," in April issue 
of Commentary

HEAVY 'TRAFFIC'

"Inspired by a miniseries that aired on British television in 1989, 
'Traffic' weaves together three loosely intersecting story-lines into a 
portrait that, in the end, is less about any of the film's characters than 
about the drug problem as a whole, from its impact on families to its place 
in our national politics. . . .

"As a number of critics have emphasized in their acclaim for 'Traffic' . . 
. the movie's merits are not just of the artistic variety. 'Traffic,' they 
insist, carries a sorely needed message.

"For Jonathan Alter of Newsweek, it effectively dramatizes 'the basic 
staleness of our national debate on drug policy.' In the New York Times, 
Stephen Holden praised its 'coolly scathing overview of the 
multibillion-dollar drug trade and the largely futile war that is being 
waged against it.' . . .

"No less pleased by 'Traffic' have been the advocates of legalizing . . . 
drugs.  The Lindesmith Center, whose primary backer, the billionaire George 
Soros, has funded ballot initiatives across the country aimed at repealing 
various drug laws, has even devoted a state-of-the-art Web site to the 
film, complete with a video game and prizes.

"As Ethan Nadelmann, the group's executive director, explained, 'The movie 
got people stirred up and got them thinking - we hope to inspire them to 
get involved.' "
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