Stopping Traffic: An In-depth Analysis of the Controversial New Film and What It Says about the United States' War on Drugs

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is, rather, to examine the issues the film raises and to highlight the truths in the story lines that are used to create those issues. In doing so, this paper seeks to enrich the stories already present in the film by providing those stories with other real-world voices from those fighting the war on drugs. In this way, this paper endeavors to create a more complete view of the world Traffic creates, and thereby to facilitate further discussion about the United States' policy on the drug war. Indeed, Traffic has such a palpable effect on those who see it, that further discussion of its themes and stories is necessary to answer the questions the film causes movie-goers to ask as they exit the theater: "Was that true? Can things really be so bad?"