Traffik [20th Anniversary Edition] [2 Discs]

Debuting over Britain's Channel 4 on June 22, 1989, the hard-hitting dramatic series Traffik was rightly praised and honored by fans, critics, and film-festival judges alike. In its chronicling of the worldwide heroin trade, the series demonstrated in no uncertain terms how the octopus-like reach of illegal drugs wrought tragedy upon the innocent and guilty alike. The serpentine story line whisked the viewer to Pakistan, Germany, Britain, and back again, leaving an appalling trail of human misery in its wake. In the process, the five-episode series (one two-hour installment, four hour-long entries) won innumerable industry prizes, including three BAFTA awards. Eleven years after its final episode aired on July 17, 1989, Traffik was reworked as the American theatrical feature Traffic by director Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter Stephen Gaghan. Once again, the project was showered with awards, including a best-actor Oscar for supporting actor Benicio Del Toro.