Snowfall is about the Crack Epidemic in LA in the early 1980s. The main character Franklin Saint, doesn't drink, smoke or take drugs but he goes from being small time to a major player.
The cocaine is being brought into LA from South America by a CIA operative called Teddy, who is using the money to fund the Contra War in Nicaragua.
There are no good guys in this series, except for Franklin's father, who was a former Black Panther, and maybe his mother.
The characters are likeable but gradually grow more ruthless, in particular Franklin and the CIA guy Teddy, who has no morals when it comes to destroying American lives in order to defeat Communism in South America.
Snowfall can also be viewed on BBC iPlayer.
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Thomas Dixie Elliot is a Derry artist and a former H Block Blanketman. Follow Dixie Elliot on Twitter @IsMise_Dixie |
Pretty sure this is a true story too Dixie.
ReplyDeleteInspired by Steve. Franklin is based on Freeway Rick Ross and Teddy is a composite character.
DeleteThanks Gavin, will give it a watch.
DeleteAnother one to watch
ReplyDeleteGood to hear from you again, Dixie
ReplyDeleteI'm quite familiar with the plot of Snowfall and other docs concerning the failed War on Drugs.
I assume Peter is still celebrating ; explains his words of wisdom missing from the site this week .
ReplyDeleteHe isn't Red Ron.
DeleteThere was a glitch with the email and his piece arrived this morning. It will go out tomorrow night and hopefully his usual slot will resume next Tuesday
Great show, watched it as it was broadcast. One of the most impressive things about it is Damson Idris' performance portraying Franklin Saint. Far from South Central LA, he was raised in London by Nigerian parents; not that you'd ever imagine he'd been out of South Central in his life.
ReplyDeleteWhen I seen the review a week or so ago the first person who sprang into my mind (like Gavin) was Free Way Rick Ross. His back story is fascinating, apart from making millions of US green backs selling cocaine, crack and fresh herbs to the Crisps and Bloods on the streets of LA during the 80's, Free Way goes to prison for life, where he learns how to read and write, studys law and argued his way out...Today Hollywood and Netflix make movies and TV shows about him.
ReplyDeleteIn the background during the 1980's while Ronald Regan was declaring his his war on drugs (TPQ link) the CIA were busy using Eouth America as their own personal training ground (exactly the same way as the British treat Ireland) and to fund their illegalities they bought tons of cocaine and fresh herbs from Pablo Escobar (and his friends) and flooded the US with drugs....
It was Gary Webb (who was found dead with two gun shot wounds to his head) and The San Jose Mercury News uncovered what going on . And how Bush snr (before he was President ) was running a CIA black op and flying South American drugs into Florida. Louisiana etc with the help of CIA operatives like a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm7AguflaiY&t=1183s"> Barry Seal (spoiler alert Barry turns states evidence and was shot dead by either the CIA, a narco--Columbian hit team or a mixture of both---days before he was due to give evidence)......Another place used by the CIA for drug drops was Mena, Arkansas (Bad Bill Clintons was the Govenor of Arkansas at the time). One evening Kevin Ives and Don Henry Kevin Ives and Don Henry (two young boys) swere out walking and they seen a drugs drop and they became among the first of the Clinton body count/people who were Arkancided.......