Heavy Traffic came out in 1973 and was Ralph Bakshi’s follow-up to his debut, Fritz The Cat. Where both films are exploitative and adult, Fritz The Cat was much more cartoonish in many ways. It was “over the top” and excessive. Heavy Traffic while still animated and excessive, it wasn’t done as a reaction, but as a realistic depiction of life in New York City.
I’m not sure if the film would still get the “R” rating today. While not as explicit and graphic, there are a number of scenes that I’m sure today would earn it an “NC-17” rating. You have been warned.
A mixture of animation and live action, in many ways this is Ralph Bakshi’s most autobiographical film, if not at the very least inspired by his life. The main character, Michael, is half-Jewish, half-Italian, 22 years old, a virgin, sex obsessed, and spends all of his time in his room drawing. One can see Heavy Traffic as both a “slice of life” and “coming of age” story.
There is an opening mologue, one that strikes echoes in the opening sequence of Trainspotting. “Where are ya goin’?” and “Where does it all lead?” are some of the questions the protagonist asks both himself and the audience. That’s much of the film’s message, such as it is, a metaphorical self-examination. Heavy Traffic is at turns outrageous, provocative, allegorical, and grotesque. This is New York City in the early 70s seen through the eye of Ralph Bakshi.
It’s interesting how you can see Bakshi working out his sexual frustrations in his first two films, but Heavy Traffic is much more “grown up” with some of the social themes it touches upon. While sexuality is often used is his future films it isn’t as lurid.
Another thing about Heavy Traffic is there are a few sequences that point towards not his next film, but the one he would make after that – Wizards. Character sketches and plot ideas are here, and you have to be looking to see them, but they are there.
I have the film on VHS, but because it’s on VHS it’s been a long time since I’ve seen Heavy Traffic. It is a bit more explicit than I remember it being, but I’m glad to have it on Blu-ray. The image and sound are clean and it’s now available for a new audience to discover.
Sadly, there are no special features.