Trainspotting

• The film is based on the novel by Irvine Welsh
• It was released in 1996, directed by Danny Boyle
• Trainspotting is set in Edinburgh, Scotland
• The director is Danny Boyle
• Trainspotting is set in Edinburgh during the late 80's/early 90's
• Trainspotting explores themes such as addiction, poverty, friendship, identity, masculinity, sexuality, and social class.
• The film has been praised for its portrayal of working-class life in Edinburgh during the late 80s/early 90s
• The film has also been criticized for glamorizing drug use and promoting negative stereotypes about Scottish people
• The opening scene shows Renton injecting heroin into his arm while lying on a bed with a TV playing in the background
• The film uses nonlinear storytelling to explore the characters' experiences with drugs and their relationships with one another
• How is narrative divided in, Trainspotting?

  Boyle employs an episodic narrative by dividing Trainspotting into a series of mini episodes, which are held together via the central protagonist Mark Renton.
• Why did Boyle chose to employ an episodic narrative?

  To deviate against the 'norms' of mainstream cinema.
• What other narrative devises are used in Trainspotting?

  Enigma codes, binary oppositions, quick cut montages, and momentary intrusions of character titles.
• How do character titles disrupt the continuity of the narrative?

  The titles pages are accompanied with freeze frame images which disrupt the continuity of the narrative.
• How could Renton's attitude towards life be described as?

  Renton's nihilistic attitude towards life works in conjunction with his anti-capitalist ideologies.
• How do Renton's characteristics reflect that he is a member of Generation X?

  Renton feels disillusioned and alienated from mainstream society.
• Which scene should we analyse, when talking about ideological messages in, Trainspotting?

  The Opening sequence.
• What does Renton's opening monologue express?

  A cynical ideology by suggesting that a life without drugs is just as absurd and just as pointless as life with drugs, therefore subverting dominant ideologies.
• Does Trainspotting, provide narrative shape for the spectator?

  In order to satisfy the spectator's desire for narrative shape, Renton moves to London, to begin a new life working as a property letting agent.
• Does Boyle present any differences between lives in London in comparison to Edinburgh?


  Despite the potential for Renton to a fresh start, Boyle presents little differences between working in London's housing market and the black market of heroin in Edinburgh.
• Does Trainspotting, provide for all spectators?

  The more active viewer, will be acutely aware that ideologically Trainspotting endorses the very values of neoliberal consumerism that it initially set our to reject.
• How does Renton's ideology develop over the course of the narrative?

  The final monologue confirms that Renton has accepted dominant ideologies and is willing to embrace consumerist culture.
• What social and political context to Trainspotting is there?

  SOCIAL:

  -north/ south divide

  -made in 1996

  - based on a book in 1992 by Irvine Welsh

  
  

  - Set in Edinburgh about heroin users

  - Scotland's boat building industry was failing

  
  

  POLITICAL:

  
  

  - labour dominance

  - poll tax riots

  - End of Thatcher
• What cultural context is there?

  - youth culture dominated the media

  - Young british art

  
  

  Britpop, Kurt Kobain, oasis

  
  

  "Lad" culture: glorified drugs and alcohol and sexism
• What institutional context is there?

  - made by channel 4

  - budget of 1.7 million

  
  

  - made £18 million in UK

  - made £14 million in the USA

  - made £72 million globally
• Who directed Trainspotting?


  Danny Boyle
• Describe scene 1:


  Low angle establishing shot: looking up to lad culture

  
  

  Jump into frame: against conventions, rebellion

  
  

  Tracking: tension, action

  
  

  Non-linear time: reflects how drugs distort time

  
  

  Voiceover: creates intimacy, conversational

  
  

  Breaking the 4th rule: associate with Renton- places us there

  
  

  Iggy pop music: punk rebellion// makes Renton look admirable
• Describe scene 1 part 2:

  
  

  (house, characters etc)

  Mise en scene: careless, no responsibility, no furniture= no comfort, stability

  
  

  Aesthetic: sickly, dull colours

  
  

  Long shots:withdrawing from reality on Heroin

  
  

  Lighting:dull/ RED- passion, warning, hell-like, blood

  
  

  Dialogue; Swearing normal

  
  

  Classical Music: ironic, against stereotypes, humor BINARY OPPOSITIONS

  
  

  Baby:foreshadows, new perspective

  Panning: revealing truth^

  
  

  "lacking moral fibre"
• Sickboy: lad, aggressive

  
  

  Begbie: agrresive

  
  

  Spud: useless, awkward, clumsy, embarrasing

  
  

  Tommy: normal, victim

  
  

  Women:LITERALLY sidelines, barely speak
• Describe the toilet scene and just before:

  Shadows: leading a different life to the one they should? conscience?

  
  

  Distorted sound, panning, slow motion: sickness, uneasy environment, not safe, disconnected

  
  

  Low angles: weak, low in society

  
  

  Pills brighter and larger: important

  
  

  CAPTION ON DOOR= BLACK COMEDY
• Describe the cafe/ Spud's interview scene:

  Rapid milkshake cuts: unique editing.

  - used to consuming

  
  

  Camera cuts between longer and shorter shots:

  - mimicks eyes widening, shock

  
  

  Shot, reverse shock

  - humor

  
  

  CONTEXT= UNEMPLOYMENT< HAPPY ON BENEFITS
• Describe Begbie's bar scene and Tommy's house scene:

  Camera zoom: drunk-like, unsteady

  -should be nervous around him

  
  

  PAUSE AND FLASHBACK

  "he never told lies, he never took drugs and he never cheated"

  
  

  MISE EN SCENE CONTRAST:

  - furnature= stable

  -sensible

  -normal
• Describe the party scene:

  . Lad and ladette stereotypes:

  - women talk about men

  "football" "shopping"

  
  

  LOW ANGLE:

  - women in control over relationships and sex lives

  
  

  BLUE LIGHTING: alluring, humerous?

  
  

  TALKING ABOUT PUNCTUATION AND 3RD PERSON:

  - reminds us it's from a novel

  -"young Renton"

  
  

  MUSIC CHANGES TO BLONDIE- DIANNE

  - confidence

  -carefree

  -unique

  
  

  CLOSE UPS WHEN TALKING TOGETHER

  - emotions

  - she sees through him
• Describe the techniques used in the sex scenes:

  
  

  (camera work obvs)

  CROSS CUTTING:

  - shows different relaitonships

  - humour- spud can't have sex

  
  

  "penetrating shot"- sex and football jokes

  
  

  full frontal nudity
• Describe the next morning scene:

  "are you her flatmates?"- innocence to her age// does have morality

  
  

  COSTUME MISE EN SCENE: school uniform to shock

  
  

  - spud is comic relief
• What does the mountain scene symbolise?

  
  

  What are the best quotes?

  - the others holding Tommy back from life

  
  

  "It's shite being Scottish"

  
  

  "we're the lowest of the low"

  
  

  "colonized by wankers"

  
  

  PROPS- alcohol
• What opinions does the close ups of preparing heroin cause?

  - addicts aesthetic

  
  

  - revolting

  
  

  -exciting
• Describe the pub scene and the baby's death:

  - Baby crying: foreshadows/ subconsciously makes us aware

  
  

  KNIFE PROP: Begbie takes it too far- links to this is england

  . geographical discrimination

  
  

  BLUE LIGHTING: coldness, death, shows the innocent victims of addiction

  
  

  "only after me"
• Describe the repeated chase scene:

  NON LINEAR NARRATIVE: shows how their life is chaotic

  
  

  - the chase seems more desperate or like an escape now

  - nervous laughter

  
  

  DOWNBEAT MUSIC: contrast- things aren't how they seem
• Describe the first trip scene:

  LOW ANGLE SHOT ON WALL: instability

  EDITING TO LANDING IN HOUSE: back into hell

  
  

  MUSIC-

  CONTRAPUNTAL: going to hospital

  NOT CONTRAPUNTAL: Renton's idea of a 'perfect day'

  
  

  LOW ANGLE:

  either a COFFIN

  or COMFORT due to the carpet and warmth of red.

  
  

  HIGH ANGLE: ressurection like