Opening scene - Trainspotting
Opening scene - Trainspotting
The opening scene of Trainspotting is a high paced scene that engages the audience's attention instantly and where the main characters are introduced. The film is based on the 1990s Scotland, where drug addiction was an issue that destroyed many people’s lives – but through the use of film elements the directors achieved to present this depressing theme of addiction from the addicts perspective and showed why they did drugs in the first place: for the pleasure.
The immediate voiceover of Renton makes the audience align with him and assume that he is the main character. At the same time, the camera shows Renton running away from guards with Spud close behind him: the framing of this shot, where Renton is in the foreground and Spud in the background, emphasises Renton’s “leader” role while Spud following behind could represent a sense of loyalty that he has towards him as we learn later in the film. Through this fast paced (reinforced by cuts and quick transitions) and humorous introduction, the audience aligns physically and spiritually with Renton. Ironically, the audience can sense the youth and the fun that these adult characters represent in spite of clearly having serious problems in their lives, such as addiction, not having jobs and death between others. But, as it is portrayed through a humorous side, the audience omit or forget about the side effects as they are distracted with fun moments (such as the football field scene) and colourful environment. A good example of this method is Renton’s apartment – a house without proper walls and furniture, lighted with natural lighting due to the huge holes instead of windows, with colour surrounding the scene. Through mise-en-scene the theme is treated more lightly: through the colour of the furniture in the apartment and the characters clothes. This encourages the audience to see the theme of drugs from another perspective and not as depressing as most films would treat it.
The presentation of the main characters in the football field somewhat resembles their own actions throughout the film and characteristics that are shown as the film goes. Their names are shown in the middle of the screen with a frozen shot of the character itself, a simple way to let the audience know the characters names. Adding to this, their body language and posture show a glimpse of what their role in the film is going to be – a hint of their character. For example, “Sick Boy” himself is shown committing a foul and then acting like he didn’t do anything. On the other hand, Tommy is shown to be cornered and by himself, shouting for his friends help. This makes sense later in the film, when he dies after his girlfriend broke up with him as a result of Renton’s actions. All of them are presented with the craziness that is caused by drugs (such as heroin) and alcohol. Spud’s character is exactly what is shown in this scene: being told off by his friends when he misses the ball, with his weird looks and movements. His character does not change much by the end.
This film was very popular among the young British audience in the 1990s as it represented the dark underworld of Edinburgh and the era of unemployment that characterised it that they were able to sympathise with. The urban deprivation and the drug abuse that the film has as main themes showcased the youth of young people at the time supported with the quirky soundtrack. Through music, the film is able to present the changes that were taking place at the time in the society – mostly cultural. Music was changing and so were drugs. Trainspotting did not glamorise the heroine, instead, it portrayed a brutally honest description of the unfulfilling life of an addict. In general the film was very popular among young people because it was realistic and honest, as well as funny instead of depressing as it would be expected.
Overall, the theme of drug consumption is portrayed through humour while reminding the audience why addicts do it in the first place in spite of its negative side effects. As Renton himself said, they already know the negative sides of drugs but they choose to embrace those moments of pleasure instead of falling into monotony. But the film also treated topics like change – cultural change specifically. The music, partying and even drugs changed through the course of the film and shows the effect that it has on the characters.
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